Encephalartos villosus
| Ground cycad | |
|---|---|
| |
| Plant with male cones | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Cycadophyta |
| Class: | Cycadopsida |
| Order: | Cycadales |
| Family: | Zamiaceae |
| Genus: | Encephalartos |
| Species: | E. villosus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Encephalartos villosus | |
| |
| native range | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Encephalartos villosus is a South African cycad occurring from the East London vicinity, where it is found near the coast, to the northern border of Eswatini (Swaziland) where it may grow as far as 100 km inland. The species is common throughout its range and is the most frequently cultivated in Southern Africa, largely because of its affordable price. As a result of its large geographical distribution, it is notably variable in leaf and cone shape.
Description
A largely
Bycanistes bucinator).[3] Its young leaves are densely covered in white hairs, while mature leaves are dark green and glossy, with a lighter shade on the underside. These leaves are 1.5 to 3 m long, with median leaflets measuring 150 to 250 mm in length and 15 to 20 mm in width. Female plants of this species produce 1 to 4 cones, which are deep yellow and measure 300-500 x 200-250 mm, containing dark red seeds. The male cones, which can be lemon-yellow and measure 600-700 x 120-150 mm, can bear up to 5 cones and emit an unpleasant odor when mature.[4]
Distribution
The preferred habitat of this species is frost-free coastal bush. It hybridises readily with Encephalartos altensteinii in the Eastern Cape and with Encephalartos lebomboensis in the Pongola area.
Gallery
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Female cone -
Seeds in female cone
References
- . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ^ Douglas Goode - Cycads of Africa - Struik Winchester 1989
- ^ "Encephalartos villosus". PlantZAfrica. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
External links
Media related to Encephalartos villosus at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Encephalartos villosus at Wikispecies
