Encephalartos longifolius curving leaves

The arched leaf rachises of Encephalartos longifolius leaves spread here around a female cone. The regularity in the angled positioning of the dark green leaflets with yellowish upper margins add grace to the plants appearance.

Narrowness of the V-shape between the two rows of upturned leaflets on each rachis is quite marked on some leaves visible here. There are longitudinal vein ridges on the lower leaflet surfaces, invisible in the photo.

The specific name, longifolius, is derived from Latin, the word part longi- meaning long and folius meaning leaf, referring to the long leaves, in comparison with those of many other cycads (Euston-Brown and Kruger, 2023; Hugo, 2014; Coates Palgrave, 2002; iNaturalist).