Cycads   Encephalartos caffer

Common Names: Caffrarian cycad, Eastern Cape Dwarf cycad Distribution & Habitat: Grassland in Eastern Cape Province, and Transkei, South Africa. it is the southernmost cycad species in South Africa. Description: This is a small, subterranean-stemmed cycad with long, pinnate, dark green leaves that are up to a metre long. The leaflets are often clustered on the leaf in a plumose fashion giving the plant a distinctively ruffled, feathery appearance. 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. Both male and female plants bear a single cone made up of a series of spiraled scales, which become greenish-yellow when mature. on top of each female cone scale, two largish, glossy, scarlet-coloured seeds are formed. Cultivation: Very rarely seen, but apparantly an easy grower. Likes a sunny, well drained position, and can tolerate light frosts.

Figure 1. E. caffer

Figure 2. E. caffer leaf detail.

Figure 3. E. caffer back-of-leaf detail.

Figure 4. E. caffer

Figure 5. E. caffer female cone.

Figure 6. E. caffer

Figure 7. E. caffer female cone.

Figure 8. E. caffer

Figure 9. E. caffer

Figure 10. E. caffer

Links:	Arkive
	The Cycad Society of South Africa
Contributed by:	Renier Smit (Figure 1-10)

For further information try
			VCE