Encephalartos transvenosus branching

Encephalartos transvenosus occasionally branches as this Kirstenbosch plant has done. Two large branches have here almost put paid to the main stem continuing straight up, but a belated effort turning into a central branch with bleak future indicates some fortitude. This tree is said to reach an age of over 500 years, when everything goes well... for a very long time.

The most impressive stand of Modjadji cycads is in the Modjadji Nature Reserve, the (only) cycad forest occurring in Modjadjiskloof and comprising around fifteen thousand trees in mistbelt conditions. The place is also known as the Rain Forest, recognising Queen Modjadji, aka the Rain Queen (Esterhuyse, et al, 2001; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; http://www.llifle.com).