Encephalartos caffer

Encephalartos caffer, a.k.a. the Caffrarian Cycad, is a rare dwarf, subterranean-stemmed cycad, and the southernmost cycad species in South Africa.

A distinctive characteristic of Encephalartos caffer is the ruffled, almost feathery (plumose) appearance of its leaves. This is caused by the leaflets crowding and the emerging from the leaf in different planes, sometimes irregularly twisting.

Encephalartos caffer leaves are light green and range from 16-40 inches long. New leaves emerge brown and woolly, losing their wool as they mature. Leaflets are usually 3-4 inches long and approximately 3/8 inch wide, gradually becoming narrower from the base and ending in a sharp tip.

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In older plants, the caudex can reach 2 feet in length, 1 foot in diameter. Encephalartos caffer is usually single stemmed (unless there is damage to the stem, when branching may occur). Encephalartos caffer also has a tuberous root system, consisting of numerous short, thick roots. Occasionally a small portion of the stem (caudex) may remain above ground level.