The name Encephalartos is derived from the Greek. en meaning 'within', kephali meaning 'head' and artos meaning 'bread'. The specific name is derived from the Latin word laevis which means 'smooth', and refers to the smoothness of the leaflets relative to that of the leaflets of E. lanatus. Large plant by AJC, PACSOA. Small plant from Junglemusic.net.

