Encephalartos natalensis practicing closeness

This impressive Encephalartos natalensis plant comprising several branches, erect stems growing very closely together, lives in the Pretoria National Botanical Garden. The sturdy, blackish stems give each other so little space that only the oldest, tallest one has the opportunity to spread its leaves in fully rounded rosette formation.

Like many small children in a big family, the younger ones make do as best they can, without sacrificing family cohesion. The natural length of the deep, glossy green leaves does not make the quest for space any easier in the intimate parts of this arrangement (Coates Palgrave, 2002).