Ground Cycad
Encephalartos villosus Lem.
Encephalartos villosus, known as Ground Cycad, is a cycad species native to South Africa, ranging from the East London area to the northern border of Eswatini. It is commonly found near the coast and can grow up to 100 km inland. The species is widely cultivated in Southern Africa due to its affordability and is notable for its variability in leaf and cone morphology across its range.
Description
Encephalartos villosus belongs to the family Zamiaceae and is distributed across Africa, particularly in the Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, and Swaziland. It was first described in 1868 by Lem. The species is common throughout its range and is the most frequently cultivated cycad in Southern Africa. Its wide geographical distribution contributes to significant variation in leaf and cone shapes. This cycad is known by the common name Ground Cycad in English and other languages.
Other common names
Poor Man's CycadGround Cycad
Distribution
Africa · Global · Cape Provinces · KwaZulu-Natal · Swaziland
Synonyms
Encephalartos striatusEncephalartos villosus f. intermediusEncephalartos villosus f. villosusEncephalartos villosus var. villosus