Encephalartos aplanatus

Encephalartos aplanatus , with its twisted and undulate leaflets, gets its name from the Latin meaning “not flat.” Encephalartos aplanatus was described in 1996 by South African botanist, Prof. Piet Vorster. Although Encephalartos aplanatus has similar cones and growth habit to Encephalartos villosus, it is pollinated by a different species of insect, supporting its separation as a different species. It also has larger and longer dark green leaves (up to 11 ½ feet long) with longer clear petioles and larger leaflets (up to 12” long) with more marginal teeth and that are more twisted than Encephalartos villosus. Encephalartos aplanatus stem is also sometimes raised above ground and does not form offsets, the stem of Encephalartos villosus is generally underground and it may often form offsets.

Encephalartos aplanatus occurs only in one small colony in the northeastern part of Swaziland, in the shade of deciduous, fairly dry ravine forest. It is not known to occur with E. villosus or E. umbeluziensis.