The Marimurtra Botanical Garden is currently working on the preservation of Encephalartos natalensis, a species native to South Africa. It is a plant similar in appearance to a small palm tree, but which produces giant cones and which can be seen growing vigorously in the palm grove area of the second garden, well-groomed by its gardeners.
The Encephalartos natalensis of the Garden belongs to the Zamiaceae family, of the Cycadales order, a group of fascinating prehistoric plants that appeared and thrived on our planet more than 200 million years ago, and are considered the oldest seed plants that have ever existed. They also hold the record for producing the largest cones or cones in the plant world, exceeding in volume and weight those produced by other conifers. Unfortunately, due to the destruction of their natural habitats, they are also one of the most threatened plants on planet Earth, with almost all of the different species considered at risk of extinction. For this reason, work towards their protection and conservation is very important.
1>> This specimen is a female plant that was planted in the Marimurtra Botanical Garden in June 2018.
2>> When two female cones grew and were receptive, in December 2023 they were pollinated manually. It took nine months for them to be ready for harvest, which took place in September 2024.
3>> In September, the remarkable female cones were harvested, a botanical spectacle due to the size and rarity of the cones: weighing 20 kg and 18 kg, a record among the pine cones in the Garden’s collection!
4>> Before starting the process of storing and maturing the seeds – which lasts approximately 6 to 7 months – the seeds were cleaned and separated from the pulp. When the internal embryo of the seeds is well formed and prepared, sowing and subsequent germination will proceed.
As can be seen, it is a long procedure that lasts approximately a year and a half from the moment of pollination to the appearance of the first seedlings.
