Encephalartos longifolius leaf

The leaves of Encephalartos longifolius become from 1 m to 2 m long. There are other cycads with 2 m long 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 positioned in a V-shape in two rows above the rachis, their lower margins 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 leaflets are bluish or dark green with a grey bloom covering. 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 (Euston-Brown and Kruger, 2023; Hugo, 2014; Coates Palgrave, 2002; iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com).