7 – Encephalartos horridus

Encephalartos horridus (Jacq.) Lehm.

El Cabo blue cycad

Scientific name: Encephalartos horridus (Jacq.) Lehm.

Family: Zamiaceae

Origin: South Africa

Year planted: Unknown

Flowering: May – July

Description

Cycads are similar to palm trees, but older and smaller, with a trunk that does not exceed a meter in height. There are more than 200 different species of cycads.

It is a dioecious plant, which means that there are male and female specimens. The leaves are long and pinnate, they can reach 1 meter. Different greenish leaves come out of a central nerve.

The flowers are born in groups (inflorescence), and are shaped like a red-brown cone. The female inflorescences are larger than the male ones.

The fruit is shaped like a pine cone, and it falls apart when it ripens. Thus, the seeds spread little by little.

Marimurtra’s specimens

In Marimurtra you will find this type of cycads throughout the garden: in the desert area of ​​South Africa, at the entrance of the garden, and in the area of ​​the cycads of the Mediterranean garden.

The specimens do not even reach 2 meters in height. The color change of the leaves can be observed: from dark green when they are young to glaucous when they are adults

Did you know…?

This species is used more and more in gardens, because it is a rare species and has very beautiful glaucous colors. But it is a protected species.

You have to take care of it because it grows very slowly, and don’t illegally extract it from the places where it grows naturally.

Threat level (UICN)

Main uses

Raunkiaer Life Forms