ENCEPHALARTOS LONGIFOLIUS

This member of the Zamiaceae family was given this name by Johann Georg Christian Lehmann in 1834. It is found in south-western Eastern Cape of South Africa, growing in a well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. The stem might branch and are reaching a height of three or even four and a half meter. It can obtain a diameter of 30 or even 45 centimetres. As the Latin name incline, the leaves are long; one to two metres. The greenish brown cones with reddish adpressed hairs are huge: The male cones which are subcylindric, narrowed somewhat to the ends, are 40-60 cm long and 14-20 cm broad. The female cones are ovid, or barrel-shaped, about 60 cm long and 40 cm diameter, weighing up to 36 kg.

The name Encephalartos is derived from the Greek. en meaning 'within', kephali meaning 'head' and artos meaning 'bread'. The species name for the long leaves. Photo by Wynand Van Eeden.