Cycads
 
Encephalartos cupidus![]()
Conservation Status:
EndangeredDistribution & 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.Culture:
It prefers a lightly shaded, well drained position in a rich organic soil. It is frost and drought tolerant.
Figure 1. E. cupidus leaf detail.
Contributed by: Dr. Andre J. Cilliers (Figure 1)
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