E. aemulans
From R840.00
This cycad occurs between Louwsburg and Ngome in Northern KwaZulu-Natal.The habitat is short grassland growing on south-facing slopes in full sun. The stem can grow up to 3 metres tall with dark glossy-green leaves erect to spreading and 1.20- 1.45m long.
Description
“Ngotshe Cycad
Encephalartos aemulans is endemic to South Africa and occurs in the KwaZulu Natal province. It is known from one population in the Vryheid district. Two old male plants were located 10km away but no further populations were found. The plants grow on a hill at an altitude of 1000 to 1100m and prefer south facing sandstone cliffs in short grassland.
The stem of Encephalartos aemulans is well developed, erect and unbranched. It can be up to 1.5 meters tall and rarely up to 3 meters and suckers from the base. Stems are up to 350 mm in diameter and has a densely woolly crown.
Leaves are dark glossy green and straight. The rigid leaves are from 1.2 meters to 1.5 meters long and rarely 2 meters long. The petioles are short and only 70 mm to 110 mm long. The pinnae are directed towards the apex of the leave at an angle of 15° – 45° and opposing pinnae are set at 135° to each other. Basal pinnae do not overlap and are reduced to prickles towards the base of the leaf. The median pinnae either do not overlap or the lower margin overlaps the upper margin of the pinna below it. The median pinnae are 125 mm to 150 mm long and are 16 mm to 18 mm wide, narrowly elliptic and very slightly recurved, tapering at both ends. The apices are offset and spinescent, with 2 to 3 teeth on the upper margin and 1 to 2 on the lower margin.
Pollen and seed cones are sessile and very similar. The specific epithet, meaning similar, refers to this characteristic of E. aemulans. Two to four cones are usually produced per stem. Male cones are ellipsoid at first, becoming more elongated when mature. It is lemon yellow and covered with a dense brown woolly coat. They are 29-38 cm long and 14-18 cm wide. The faces are smooth except for the front facet which is slightly raised and warty. Female cones are ellipsoid, green and has the same woolly coat as the male cones. They are 35-40 cm long and 20-23 cm wide. Megasporophyll faces are warty. The peduncle can be 2 to 2.5 cm long and is buried in the crown. The sarcotesta is bright red and the sclerotesta has poorly expressed longitudinal ridges. Seeds are 25-29 mm long and 15-19 mm in diameter.”
https://africacycads.com/cycads.php
Related Products
E. latifrons
E. latifrons is very rare and found in one restricted habitat in the Bathurst and Albany district in the Eastern Cape. It grows in thick bush but often along dry river courses. A slow growing cycad with olive-green, prickly leaves, 1-1,5m long with stems up to 3m tall.
E. longifolius
This cycad occur close to the coast near Jubertina in the Langkloof, as well as eastwards to Humansdorp, Uitenhage and Grahamstown. It grows in full sun on or among sandstone outcrops and fynbos covered slopes. Leaves are dark green in color while plants from the Joubertina habitats have bluish-green leaves. Although foliage does vary in color, the length remains at 1-1,75m . The stems grow up to 4.5m tall.
E. arenarius
This cycad is restricted to coastal dune forest and bush vegetation in the Alexandria district, north-east of Port Elizabeth. The leaves range from dark green in colour to a bluish shade, 1-1.5m long with stems up to 2m tall recorded. This cycad will do well in full sun or semi-shade.
E. laevifolius
This cycad has a distribution from KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga to Limpopo Province. The leaves range from blue-grey to green with stems up to 4m tall. A slow growing cycad favouring sunny positions.
E. altensteinii
This Eastern Cape cycad grows along the east coast from the Busmans River in the south to as far north as the border of KwaZulu-Natal. It also occurs inland, up to 40km from the coast near Komga, Kei Road and King William’s Town. Vegetation varies from shade to full sun. Plants growing in shade will produce recurving leaves of 2-3m in length, while plants in full sun (typical) produce shorter, erect to gently recurving leaves. The leaves are mid-green in colour. These cycads may grow up to 4m tall.
E. ferox
Found in the sandy soils of Northern KwaZulu-Natal to Inhambane in Mozambique. This cycad grow well in sunny and shady positions, the shade plants producing darker, more luxuriant foliage. The leaves are dark green, 1-2m in length, erect to spreading. The stem can grow up to 1.5m tall.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.