Description
Encephalartos lehmannii is
not a very tall growing cycad. The stems are usually short and
sturdy, up to about 1,5m in length. Stems of 2m and taller are
very rare. The diameter of the stem usually ranges between 25cm
and 50cm. Although plants with single stems occur, it is more
usual to see plants with two or more stems, branching from the
same base. Some of these stems may be procumbent or curved.
Occasionally "two-headed" or "multi-headed" stems are found.
This is usually the result of damage to the growth point of the
original stem. Stems with side stems are also sometimes seen,
but these are rare. These branches probably originate where a
stem is damaged. Like in other cycads, the stem is covered and
protected by a layer of persistent old leaf bases..
The leaves of E. lehmannii are 1m
to 1,5m long, including the leaf stalk which is up to 25cm long.
The rachis is stiff and nearly straight, except for the tip,
which may curve back slightly or may occasionally be somewhat
twisted sideways. The leaf base is quite large and has a
conspicuous red-brown to yellow-brown collar. The leaves have a
grey-blue colour when young, but may become green with age.
The pinnae at the middle of the leaf are
approximately 12cm to 18cm long and 1,5cm to 2cm broad. The
leaflets closer to the tip and the base of the leaf are smaller.
Towards the base they are reduced in size to possibly one
prickle. The leaflets are usually without teeth, although an
occasional tooth or two may occur on the margin. The leaflets
are attached to the rachis in such a way that they are
horizontal to the rachis, but that they form a V along the leaf.
They are well spaced, especially towards the base of the leaf.
Towards the tip they are closer together but seldom overlap
much. The leaves of seedlings are quite short with relatively
few leaflets (8 or 10). The seedling leaflets have a number of
teeth at its tip. The seedling leaflets are also well spaced.
Single cones are borne by both female and
male plants. In both sexes the colour of the cone is
blackish-red as a result of short black hair which covers the
ends of the cone scales. These are actually green in colour
under the layer of hairs. The cone is borne on a short, stout
stalk. The male cone is more or less cylindrical in shape, but
narrower towards the base and the tip. It is 25cm to 35cm long,
with a diameter of 8cm to 10cm. The cone is made up of spiral
rows of cone scales, each about 2,5cm broad and lcm thick. The
end of each scale forms a beak which projects about 1,5cm. The
bottom surface of each scale is covered with pollen sacs. The
female cone is more or less barrel-shaped and 30cm to 50cm long,
with a diameter of 15cm to 25cm. The cone scales at the middle
of the cone are about 6cm long, 6cm broad and 3,5cm thick. The
scale has a beak which projects approximately 2cm. The face of
the cone scale is almost smooth. Mature cones lose the layer of
fine hair and have more of a green colour. Two seeds are formed
on top of each cone scale. The fresh seed has a bright red cover
and is approximately 5cm long and 2cm in diameter.
Female cone |
Male cones |
![Encephalartos lehmannii seed detail]()
Seeds |
Leaf detail |
Distribution & Habitat
E. lehmannii is the cycad species most
closely associated with the dry regions, particularly the Karoo. It may also be
the species which occurs furthest to the west. It occurs on cliffs and mountain
sides in the Eastern Cape Province in the districts of Willowmore, Steytlerville,
Uitenhage, Pearston and Bedford. It grows on the Klein Winterhoek Mountains and
Groot Bruintjieshoogte in the drainage areas of the Groot and Sundays Rivers.
Plants usually grow on sandstone hills and mountainsides amongst Karoo scrub
vegetation. It is often associated with the Euphorbia species ("noorsdoring")
which is so characteristic of this part of the Karoo. The climate in its
distribution area is dry, with very hot summers. Night temperatures drop to
extremes in winter and frost occurs. Rain falls mainly in summer and the annual
rainfall is seldom higher than 350mm. Prolonged droughts occur periodically.
In the Uitenhage district the distribution areas of
E. lehmannii and E. horridus
are close to each other. No hybrids have been described officially, but there
are reports of hybrids between the species. If hybrids do occur, they are rare.
North of Uitenhage, E. lehmannii also grows in close proximity to
E. longifolius, but no hybrids
have been reported.
Cultivation & Propagation
E. lehmannii grows quite well in the garden
and it's blue-grey leaves can be very attractive and effective in a well-planned
garden, for example as a contrast plant. It also blends in well in a rock
garden, amongst aloes and other succulent plants. The soil should be very well
drained, fertile and neutral to alkaline and it should be grown in full sun. If
it is grown in the shade, the leaves will loose their blue-grey colour and
become green. Plants should not be over watered. E. lehmannii is able to
resist long periods of drought and plants should not be over watered. It is also
hardy to frost.
Seeds of E. lehmannii germinate easily and
this species can quite easily be grown from seed. Seedlings do not grow very
fast and the leaves remain relatively short for a number of years.
Notes
E. lehmannii did not enjoy such a
well-documented discovery as E.
longifolius and E. caffer. It
was identified and named in Europe from material collected in South Africa,
probably by plant collectors in the eighteenth century. The earliest names which
seemed to have applied to what later became E. lehmannii, are Zamia
pungens (given by Aiton in 1813) and Zamia lehmanniana, given by
Ecklon and Zeyher in 1833 and named after Prof. J.G.C. Lehmann of Hamburg,
Germany.
When he created the genus name Encephalartos in
1834, Lehmann transferred both these names, as E.pungens and
E.lehmannii respectively. In 1933 J. Hutchinson and G. Rattray reduced E.
pungens to E. lehmannii. At the same time they also reduced to E.
lehmannii a number of the previously named species and varieties, including
Zamia spinulosa, Zamia elongata, Zamia occidentalis, Encephalartos spinulosus,
E. elongatus, E. mauritianus, E. lehmannii var. spinulosus, E. lehmannii var.
dentatus and E. horridus var. trispinosa.
It became evident that there were wide variations
amongst the plants grouped together as E. lehmannii by Hutchinson and
Rattray and in 1965 Dr R.A. Dyer divided E.lehmannii into three different
species: E.lehmannii, E.princeps
and E. trispinosus.
Until fairly recently, E. lehmannii occurred
in relatively large numbers. This situation seems to be changing rapidly and
numerous plants have been removed from their habitat by collectors, especially
those closer to main roads. Most of those which remain are high up in the cliffs
in relatively inaccessible terrain. E. lehmannii is in need of strict
protection, especially since it is nowhere specifically protected in any reserve
by the province or the state and occurs only on privately owned land. The
establishment of one or more nature reserves which would include viable colonies
of E. lemannii could save this beautiful species from extinction.
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Short stemmed
Blue grey leaves
Full Sun
Low Water
Light Frost
Height: 1,5 - 2m |
Distribution
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Eco-types
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Habitat photo 1
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References & Acknowledgements
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Encephalartos Vol 4: Focus on Encephalartos lehmannii - Maans Kemp
- Habitat, Cone, Leaf Detail photos - Dr Piet Vorster
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Other Links
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