Encephalartos altensteinii fruiting on the short stem

The short, young stem of this female Encephalartos altensteinii plant has produced a couple of fruit cones at its tip, and after that leaves growing in their midst. The old stem, much taller alongside, has leaves spreading widely, interfering with the more erect new leaves on its side.

One angled cone is still intact, the other busy releasing its brightly coloured crop (Coates Palgrave, 2002).