Encephalartos longifolius leaf

The leaves of Encephalartos longifolius become 2 m long. There are other cycads with 2 m leaves as well, but this one received the name for it. The rachis of the leaf is pale yellow and curves downwards along its upper part. This creates a striking appearance for the tree’s attractive crown. Young leaves are hairy for a limited period, then become smooth. The leaflets are bluish or dark green with a grey bloom covering. They are positioned in a V-shape on opposite sides of the rachis with the lower edge usually markedly curved while the upper one is straight or nearly so.

The leaflets may be spaced, while some may be close together and overlapping. The leaflet margins are usually entire, although one to three teeth are occasionally found on the lower edges of some leaflets. There is often a small spike at the leaflet tip, although the pinna tip may also sometimes be rounded. At the leaf base there may be a long bare petiole with no pinnae. Leaflets at the base are smaller, sometimes reduced to prickles, in other cases holding their shape (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).