Encephalartos natalensis seed cones

The cones of the giant cycad are dark green to yellowish green or golden yellow, initially with a thin covering of brownish wool. Seed cones may be 50 cm long with a diameter of 25 cm. Pollen cones are a little shorter, narrow and cylindrical. Up to three cones may be borne at a time as can be observed on the specimen in picture.

The robust growth of new leaves in the centre among the cones is unusual, caused by the prolonged and excessive rainy season experienced in Johannesburg during 2011. This photo was taken in April, autumn. The seeds to be released from these cones in a few months are bright red and 5 cm long, 2 cm wide.

Encephalartos natalensis may be single-stemmed, or there may be a few stems on one plant, as well as several basal suckers. It grows reasonably fast and is moderately frost resistant. This cycad does well in dappled sunlight filtering through bigger trees (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.pacsoa.org.au; www.cycadpalm.com; www.arkive.org).