Broodbome in our garden

CYCADS.

http://www.florcomgardens.co.za/?cat=29
1 Botaniese naam: Encephalartos ferox
Gewone naam : Tongaland Broodboom.
Groeibeskrywing
Encephalartos ferox word gekenmerk deur donkergroen leeragtige blare met stekelrige pinnae. Blare is een tot twee meter lank.
Die stam groei gewoonlik nie hoog bo die grond nie en vertak selde.
Een tot 10 keëls kan per plant voorkom. Manlike keëls is 40 tot 50 cm lank met ‘n deursnit van 7 tot 10 cm. Vroulike keëls is 25 tot 50 cm lank met ‘n deursnit van 20 tot 40 cm. Elke vroulike keël dra ongeveer 500 helderrooi sade.

Kom aan die noordkus van Kwazulu Natal en ook in Mosambiek voor.

This photo was taken over the weekend in our garden.

Ferox with two cones. They are bright red & have been on the plant for 6 weeks already

http://www.cycadsociety.org/

The second species that I have in the garden is a dwarf plant & blue in colour. It was a very small plant when I got it, and has made 8 leaves the last 2 years. It is still in a pot.

2.Encephalartos horridus - (Jacq.) Lehmann

The stems of typical, mature Encephalartos horridus plants are between 50cm and 1m in length and 20cm to 30cm in diameter. When grown in deep soil, the bottom half or more of the stem may be covered by soil, creating the impression that E. horridus is a dwarf species. In more rocky areas, the stems may be entirely above ground level. The entire crown of the stem is slightly woolly

3.Encephalartos villosus - Lemaire

Encephalartos villosus has a short sub-terranean stem, more or less continuous with the main root. In mature plants the stem protrudes slightly above ground level but not more than about 30cm. The top of the stem is densely woolly and it is because of this woolliness that the name villosus was coined by Lemaire.

These photo's were taken in our garden in September. There were 3 cones on the plant & when ripe the yellow scales fall off to reveal the bloodred seeds.

I have 3 other species that I haven't been able to identify.