Obviously they grow not only on sand dunes
Great info coming through, Sharifa, thanks heaps 
Cycads of South Africa
Moderator: Klipspringer
Re: Cycads of South Africa
Is it a multi-stemmed cycad, or are these sveral plants in the second photo?
Obviously they grow not only on sand dunes
Great info coming through, Sharifa, thanks heaps
Obviously they grow not only on sand dunes
Great info coming through, Sharifa, thanks heaps 
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Sharifa
Re: Cycads of South Africa
The centre one is multi-stemmed Toko. To the side are separate plants.Toko wrote:Is it a multi-stemmed cycad, or are these sveral plants in the second photo?
Obviously they grow not only on sand dunes
In the wild they tend to grow on the sand dunes, but you can grow them in the garden as long as you have good drainage in the soil.
Re: Cycads of South Africa
First time I see a multi-stemmed cycad 
I wonder if there are other species with this special feature
I wonder if there are other species with this special feature -
Sharifa
Re: Cycads of South Africa
Quite a few of them Toko 
The aemulans and the altenstenii both do and they can be cut off to be grown as new plants.
altensteinii
Some grow branches and they are called "suckers" which can also be cut off and grown as a new plants.
The aemulans and the altenstenii both do and they can be cut off to be grown as new plants. altensteinii
Some grow branches and they are called "suckers" which can also be cut off and grown as a new plants.
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Sharifa
Re: Cycads of South Africa
E.brevifoliolatus
Description
The stems of E.brevifoliolatus are well developed, usually unbranched but often suckering from the base to form clumps of up to 6 stems. The stem is erect but often leaning to some extent or even hanging from cliffs. Stems are up to 2.5m tall and 250mm to 300mm thick and covered by relatively small remains of leaf bases which are often charred from fires in its grassland habitat.
The leaves are 800mm to 900mm (1200mm?) long, rigid and straight or very slightly recurved near their apices. Colour is yellowish and they are 90mm to 200mm long and 7mm to 10mm thick.
Up to 6 male cones were seen per stem. They are sessile, very narrowly egg-shaped and covered in minute and very short whitish felt-like hairs. It is about 350mm long and 60mm to 70mm in diameter in the dried state. The exposed faces of median microsporophylls (cone scales) are rhombic, about 22mm wide and 5mm high, and drawn out to a length of about 6mm to the central facet. The central facet is rhombic, smooth, 7mm to 9mm wide and 3mm to 5mm wide. The female cones are unknown.
E.brevifoliolatus is known from five individuals which occur widely scattered over a few square kilometers on the Drakensberg escarpment in the Northern Province. In consideration of its vulnerable conservation status, the locality cannot be divulged in greater detail. It grows in short grassland, in very open Protea savanna, on quartzite-derived sandstone or on cliffs. Plants grow in direct sunlight at elevations of 1,300m to 1,500m.
Very little is known about the cultivation of E.brevifoliolatus because it is so rare. None the less it is represented in at least one, possibly two, collections. It should be grown in full sun and the normal requirements for cycads should be adhered to. Since female cones are not known, this species can only be propagated by removing suckers from the base.
The fact that, in spite of a diligent aerial search, only five widely separated specimens could be located, coupled to the lack of evidence for the survival of female plants, leads to the conclusion that the conservation status of this species is extremely precarious.
Unfortunately I do not have photos of the E.brevifoliolatus
Description
The stems of E.brevifoliolatus are well developed, usually unbranched but often suckering from the base to form clumps of up to 6 stems. The stem is erect but often leaning to some extent or even hanging from cliffs. Stems are up to 2.5m tall and 250mm to 300mm thick and covered by relatively small remains of leaf bases which are often charred from fires in its grassland habitat.
The leaves are 800mm to 900mm (1200mm?) long, rigid and straight or very slightly recurved near their apices. Colour is yellowish and they are 90mm to 200mm long and 7mm to 10mm thick.
Up to 6 male cones were seen per stem. They are sessile, very narrowly egg-shaped and covered in minute and very short whitish felt-like hairs. It is about 350mm long and 60mm to 70mm in diameter in the dried state. The exposed faces of median microsporophylls (cone scales) are rhombic, about 22mm wide and 5mm high, and drawn out to a length of about 6mm to the central facet. The central facet is rhombic, smooth, 7mm to 9mm wide and 3mm to 5mm wide. The female cones are unknown.
E.brevifoliolatus is known from five individuals which occur widely scattered over a few square kilometers on the Drakensberg escarpment in the Northern Province. In consideration of its vulnerable conservation status, the locality cannot be divulged in greater detail. It grows in short grassland, in very open Protea savanna, on quartzite-derived sandstone or on cliffs. Plants grow in direct sunlight at elevations of 1,300m to 1,500m.
Very little is known about the cultivation of E.brevifoliolatus because it is so rare. None the less it is represented in at least one, possibly two, collections. It should be grown in full sun and the normal requirements for cycads should be adhered to. Since female cones are not known, this species can only be propagated by removing suckers from the base.
The fact that, in spite of a diligent aerial search, only five widely separated specimens could be located, coupled to the lack of evidence for the survival of female plants, leads to the conclusion that the conservation status of this species is extremely precarious.
Unfortunately I do not have photos of the E.brevifoliolatus
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Sharifa
Re: Cycads of South Africa
E.caffer
Description
Encephalartos caffer has an underground stem but occasionally a small portion of the stem may be above ground level. The stem resembles that of other Encephalartos species and is covered by old leaf-bases. The stem in older plants may be of considerable size; as much as 40cm long and 25cm in diameter. The stem is always woolly on top and is usually unbranched. Branching occurs occasionally, probably as a result of damage to the stem. Characteristic of this species is its tuberous root system, consisting of numerous short, thick roots.
The leaves of E. caffer are very characteristic. They are 40cm to 1m in length and light green. New leaves are brown and woolly at first but most of the hair is lost as they mature, although they never become completely smooth or glossy. The rachis of the leaf is usually straight, but may sometimes be curved or twisted. When the leaves are many, the lower leaves may be spread out almost horizontally. The petiole is about one quarter to one third, as long as the rachis. The leaf base is covered with pale brown wool.
The pinnae at the middle of the leaf are usually 8cm to 10cm long and approximately 1cm broad, gradually becoming narrower from the base and ending in a sharp tip. The leaflets become smaller towards the leaf base, eventually ending in one or two prickles. These reduced leaves may be forked, but the other leaflets are usually without teeth, especially in mature plants. In young plants one or two teeth may occur on both margins. Seedlings are characterized by up to four teeth at the tip of the leaflet. A characteristic of E. caffer is the ruffled appearance of the leaves, caused by the numerous, crowded leaflets and the fact that the leaflets arise from the rachis in different planes and may be irregularly twisted from the rachis.
Both male and female plants bear single cones which are greenish-yellow when mature. The cones are borne on short, thick peduncles, up to about 15cm long in the case of the male and 7cm long in the female. The male cone itself is approximately 20cm to 30cm long and 6cm to 12cm in diameter. The cone is cylindrical, but becomes narrower towards its tip. The male cone has a number of spirals of roughly triangular scales. At the middle of the cone the scales are about 3cm long and 2,5cm broad at it's widest end. The faces of these median scales are slightly projected to form beaks, 5mm to 6mm long, with the lower margin sometimes toothed. The whole of the under-surface of the scale, except for the narrow end, is covered by sporangia - small sacs in which the yellow pollen is formed.
The female cones are up to 30cm long and 15cm in diameter. The cone is more or less cylindrical but becomes narrower towards the rounded tip. The scales are arranged in 6 to 8 spirals. The scales at the middle of the cone are approximately 5,5cm long and 5,5cm wide at its widest part. The scale is about 3,5cm thick and ends in a flat face. The rim of this flat surface is slightly raised and the lower margin projects somewhat and may be irregularly toothed. On top of each female cone scale two seeds are formed, each up to about 3,8cm long and 2,5cm in diameter. The fresh seed is bright red or scarlet in colour and glossy in appearance. Occasionally pale pinkish-yellow seeds are found.
Female Cone
Distribution and Habitat
E. caffer occurs in the Eastern Cape Province in the districts of Humansdorp, Albany, Bathurst and East London and in the former Transkei in the district of Kentani, as far east as Willowvale. E. caffer grows in the coastal belt, usually in sour grassveld, where plants are often difficult to see in the surrounding grass. It is often found growing amongst rocks. This may be the result of the protection offered by the surrounding rocks against the effects of veld fires on young plants. The rainfall in its distribution range varies from about 1,000 mm per year at the coast to 750 mm and less further inland. The summers in these areas are hot and no frost occurs. Rain in the north-western parts of the distribution area occurs mainly in summer. In the Humansdorp district it is more evenly spread, with some winter rain and fairly dry summers.
Although specimens of E. caffer occur close to some other species, for example E. trispinosus, in the Grahamstown and Bathurst areas, no signs of hybridization have been reported.
Description
Encephalartos caffer has an underground stem but occasionally a small portion of the stem may be above ground level. The stem resembles that of other Encephalartos species and is covered by old leaf-bases. The stem in older plants may be of considerable size; as much as 40cm long and 25cm in diameter. The stem is always woolly on top and is usually unbranched. Branching occurs occasionally, probably as a result of damage to the stem. Characteristic of this species is its tuberous root system, consisting of numerous short, thick roots.
The leaves of E. caffer are very characteristic. They are 40cm to 1m in length and light green. New leaves are brown and woolly at first but most of the hair is lost as they mature, although they never become completely smooth or glossy. The rachis of the leaf is usually straight, but may sometimes be curved or twisted. When the leaves are many, the lower leaves may be spread out almost horizontally. The petiole is about one quarter to one third, as long as the rachis. The leaf base is covered with pale brown wool.
The pinnae at the middle of the leaf are usually 8cm to 10cm long and approximately 1cm broad, gradually becoming narrower from the base and ending in a sharp tip. The leaflets become smaller towards the leaf base, eventually ending in one or two prickles. These reduced leaves may be forked, but the other leaflets are usually without teeth, especially in mature plants. In young plants one or two teeth may occur on both margins. Seedlings are characterized by up to four teeth at the tip of the leaflet. A characteristic of E. caffer is the ruffled appearance of the leaves, caused by the numerous, crowded leaflets and the fact that the leaflets arise from the rachis in different planes and may be irregularly twisted from the rachis.
Both male and female plants bear single cones which are greenish-yellow when mature. The cones are borne on short, thick peduncles, up to about 15cm long in the case of the male and 7cm long in the female. The male cone itself is approximately 20cm to 30cm long and 6cm to 12cm in diameter. The cone is cylindrical, but becomes narrower towards its tip. The male cone has a number of spirals of roughly triangular scales. At the middle of the cone the scales are about 3cm long and 2,5cm broad at it's widest end. The faces of these median scales are slightly projected to form beaks, 5mm to 6mm long, with the lower margin sometimes toothed. The whole of the under-surface of the scale, except for the narrow end, is covered by sporangia - small sacs in which the yellow pollen is formed.
The female cones are up to 30cm long and 15cm in diameter. The cone is more or less cylindrical but becomes narrower towards the rounded tip. The scales are arranged in 6 to 8 spirals. The scales at the middle of the cone are approximately 5,5cm long and 5,5cm wide at its widest part. The scale is about 3,5cm thick and ends in a flat face. The rim of this flat surface is slightly raised and the lower margin projects somewhat and may be irregularly toothed. On top of each female cone scale two seeds are formed, each up to about 3,8cm long and 2,5cm in diameter. The fresh seed is bright red or scarlet in colour and glossy in appearance. Occasionally pale pinkish-yellow seeds are found.
Female Cone
Distribution and Habitat
E. caffer occurs in the Eastern Cape Province in the districts of Humansdorp, Albany, Bathurst and East London and in the former Transkei in the district of Kentani, as far east as Willowvale. E. caffer grows in the coastal belt, usually in sour grassveld, where plants are often difficult to see in the surrounding grass. It is often found growing amongst rocks. This may be the result of the protection offered by the surrounding rocks against the effects of veld fires on young plants. The rainfall in its distribution range varies from about 1,000 mm per year at the coast to 750 mm and less further inland. The summers in these areas are hot and no frost occurs. Rain in the north-western parts of the distribution area occurs mainly in summer. In the Humansdorp district it is more evenly spread, with some winter rain and fairly dry summers.
Although specimens of E. caffer occur close to some other species, for example E. trispinosus, in the Grahamstown and Bathurst areas, no signs of hybridization have been reported.
