Description
Encephalartos altensteinii
is a medium to large plant with stems up to 5 meters long and a
diameter of 35cm. Stems can be erect or reclining and grow in
clumps or as single stem plants. Suckers are formed from the
base.
Young leaves are bright green and covered with
hair. Leaves can be 1-3 meters long, 20-30cm wide and more or
less flat in cross section with a straight profile. Colour is
bright yellowish green and the petiole is 10-30cm long.
The pinnae are lanceolate and moderately
spaced along the rachis. Lower pinnae are reduced, but not to
spines. Median pinnae are 10-15cm long and 2-3cm wide. They are
rigid, pungent-tipped and normally entire but can have 1-5 teeth
on the margins.
Pollen and seed cones are markedly dissimilar
and occur 2 to 5 on a stem. Male cones are 40-50cm long, 12-15cm
in diameter and cylindrical but tapered to the top. Colour is
yellow to yellowish green. Peduncle is sturdy and can be 5-10cm
long. Female cones are 40-55cm x 25-30cm, sessile, oblong-ovoid
and yellow with brown hair. Seeds are 3.5-4cm x 2-2.5cm and
bright red.
Female cone |
Male cones |
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Seeds |
Leaf detail |
Distribution & Habitat
The species is endemic to South Africa and occurs in
the Eastern Cape. It occurs in coastal regions and up to the border with KwaZulu Natal. Habitat varies from
rocky exposed slopes to densely shaded forests. Climate is warm to hot in summer and cool winter. Rainfall is mainly in summer and varies from 875mm to 1,000mm.
Cultivation & Propagation
E. altensteinii is easily grown and transplants
readily even when mature. Plants can adapt to full sun but also do well in the
shade. Soil should be well drained. It will tolerate light to moderate frost but
frost in it's habitat is rare. Propagation is by seed or by removing suckers
from the parent plant
Notes
 E.
altensteinii was first described in 1834. This species is well known and common
in private collections because it propagates easily and grows relatively fast. A
specimen of E. altensteinii (see E. longifolius) sent to Kew Gardens in 1775 is
still growing in the Palm House. This species is very robust and cases exist of
plants growing vigorously after being replanted, after years in a shed.
This species is variable and plants from the eastern
localities have less spiny pinnae. E. altensteinii is closely related to
E. natalensis but it can be distinguished by the absence of reduced, spiny pinnae
on the petiole. Natural hybrids with E. trispinosus are known where these
species grow close to each other. Natural hybrids have also been recorded with
E. villosus, E. arenarius and E. latifrons. The hybrids usually have
intermediate characteristics between the parents. |
