Encephalartos paucidentatus

The Barberton cycad, as Encephalartos paucidentatus is commonly known, reaches heights to around 6 m (SA Tree List. No. 11). Mature stems are from 40 cm to 70 cm in diameter. The plant is thought to be one of the most attractive members of the genus.

The stem may be upright or lying on the ground, the tree still growing. Stems occasionally branch at the base and also form clumps.

The dark green, glossy leaves can reach lengths of around 2,5 m, forming attractive crowns. Young leaves have a covering of brownish hairs which are shed as the leaves mature. The specific name, paucidentatus, is derived from the Latin words paucus meaning few and dentatus meaning toothed, referring to the few teeth found on the leaf margins.

Both male and female plants produce up to five cones. The plant in picture is female, its cone wider than the male one.

The species distribution is restricted to a small part of Mpumalanga near Barberton, also found in Swaziland.

The habitat is montane, rocky grassland and forests of the mistbelt and escarpment, often near water. The species is considered vulnerable in its habitat early in the twenty first century, due to habitat destruction from forestry and plant collection for horticulture (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com; www.pacsoa.org.au; http://redlist.sanbi.org).