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| Division: Cycadophyta |
| Class: Cycadopsida |
| Order: Cycadales |
| Family: Zamiaceae |
| Genus: Encephalartos |
| Species: E. cycadifolius |
Conservation Status: |
E. cycadifolius
Winterberg CycadEncephalartos cycadifolius is a species of cycad that is native to the Winterberg mountains to the north of Bedford in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. It is found at elevations from 1,200 to 1,800 meters.
It is a slow-growing, single to multi-stemmed cycad, with a stem of 1.0-1.5 x up to 0.25 m. The leaves are dark olive, 0.6-1.0 m. The yellow-orange leaf stalk has a slight spiral twist. The leaflets have no thorns and are attached in a V-shaped formation. Male and female plants usually bear one or two yellow cones covered with grey hair, becoming brown with age. Male cones are 150-200 x 50-80 mm. Female cones are 200-300 x 160-180 mm.
Cultivation:
Encephalartos cycadifolius is easily grown from seed. In cultivation, pollination is necessary for a successful seed harvest. Pollen can be collected as soon as the male cones begin shedding (if a light tapping of the male cone produces pollen then the cones are ready to harvest). The collected pollen must be stored at minus 15°C for best results. The female cone has to be monitored to check when the scales open. The window of the scale opening varies from plant to plant, and may last from three days to two weeks. A good pollination rate can be achieved using the wet method (pollen mixed with distilled water and applied by syringe).
After female cones have been collected, the seed is left to mature for a year before sowing at the beginning of summer. For best results, seed is sown in river sand on a heated bench at 24-28°C. Germination should start three weeks after sowing, but may sometimes take longer.
Special care must be taken when adult plants are transplanted, as Encephalartos cycadifolius is slow-growing and can easily die or take a long time to recover from relocation. Leaves and cones are prone to scale and mealy bug.
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| full sun | dark green | very low watering | slow growth | frost-hardy | rare |
Encephalartos cycadifolius is easily grown from seed. In cultivation, pollination is necessary for a successful seed harvest. Pollen can be collected as soon as the male cones begin shedding (if a light tapping of the male cone produces pollen then the cones are ready to harvest). The collected pollen must be stored at minus 15°C for best results. The female cone has to be monitored to check when the scales open. The window of the scale opening varies from plant to plant, and may last from three days to two weeks. A good pollination rate can be achieved using the wet method (pollen mixed with distilled water and applied by syringe).
After female cones have been collected, the seed is left to mature for a year before sowing at the beginning of summer. For best results, seed is sown in river sand on a heated bench at 24-28°C. Germination should start three weeks after sowing, but may sometimes take longer.
Special care must be taken when adult plants are transplanted, as Encephalartos cycadifolius is slow-growing and can easily die or take a long time to recover from relocation. Leaves and cones are prone to scale and mealy bug.
Available E. cycadifolius at Africa Cycads: