Cycads   Encephalartos cupidus

Distribution & Habitat: This plant is now mainly found in the Blyde River Nature Reserve, on steep slopes, rocky grassland and open forest. It used to have a much wider distribution, but it has suffered very heavily from plant collectors, so its range has been considerably reduced. Description: A medium sized suckering cycad with an erect or procumbent stem, up to 2.5 m long, and 300mm in diameter. It has glaucous, blue-green leaves up to 1m long. Cultivation: It prefers a lightly shaded, well drained position in a rich organic soil. It is frost and drought tolerant. Figure 2. E. cupidus

Figure 1. E. cupidus

Figure 3. E. cupidus female cone.

Figure 4. E. cupidus cone.

Figure 5. E. cupidus .

Links:	The Cycad Society
Contributed by:	Peter Heibloem Cycad Gardens (Figure 1,3,4&5)
	Dr. Andre J. Cilliers (Figure 2)

For further information try
			VCE