Encephalartos altensteinii Lehm.

Common name(s): Bread Tree, Broodboom, Eastern Cape Giant Cycad, uJobane

Family: Zamiaceae Subfamily: Encephalartoideae Synonym(s): Enceohalartos marumii de Vriese, Encephalartos regalis W. Bull, Zamia altensteinii Lehm., Heynh., Zamia katzeri Regel ex J. Schust., Zamia vroomanii Gentil

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 4th October, 2021 at Adelaide Botanic Gardens

Stem (Lower)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Stem (Upper)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond (Front)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Pinna (Front)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Inflorescence (Male)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Inflorescence (Female)

Taken by Ken Harrington

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Palm / Palm Ally Properties

Origin(s)

South Africa

Eastern Ca: Indigenous
KwaZulu: Indigenous

Plant Type

Cycad, Palm Ally

Cycad,

Palm Ally

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical

Temperate Warm,

Mediterranean,

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light

Sun - Full,

Shade - Dappled,

Shade - Light

Habitat Range(s)

Coastal

Habitat Zone(s)

Cliffs, Coastal margins, Exposed, Exposed Stony embankments, Foothills, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Hill Sides, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Plains, Rivers / Creeks / Streams, Rock crevices, Rocky, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Slopes, Understory, Well drained

Cliffs,

Coastal margins,

Exposed,

Exposed Stony embankments,

Foothills,

Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,

Hill Sides,

Moist areas,

Moist Slopes,

Plains,

Rivers / Creeks / Streams,

Rock crevices,

Rocky,

Sandy Moist,

Scattered,

Slopes,

Understory,

Well drained

Mature Height

6-7m

Mature Width

2-3m, 3-4m

2-3m,

3-4m

Growth Rate

Very Slow

Plant Shape

Standard Crown - Dense

Life Span

300-400yrs, 400-500yrs, 500-600yrs, 600-1000yrs

300-400yrs,

400-500yrs,

500-600yrs,

600-1000yrs

Frond Properties

Frond Colour(s) (front)

Glossy, Green, Green Light

Glossy,

Green,

Green Light

Frond Colour(s) (back)

Green, Green Light

Green,

Green Light

Frond Texture (front)

Leathery

Rigid

Frond Texture (back)

Glabrous

Leathery

Glabrous,

Leathery

Rigid

Frond Length

2-2.25m, 2.25-2.5m, 2.5-2.75m, 2.75-3m

2-2.25m,

2.25-2.5m,

2.5-2.75m,

2.75-3m

Frond Width

100-150mm, 150-200mm

100-150mm,

150-200mm

Frond Aroma

None

Frond Shapes

Pinnate / Parapinnate

Recurved

Pinnate / Parapinnate,

Recurved

Frond Arrangement

Alternate

Whorled

Alternate ,

Whorled

Trunk / Stem Properties

Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)

Grey-brown, Grey-green

Grey-brown,

Grey-green

Colour(s) (Base)

Grey-brown

Texture (Upper)

Coarse , Knobbly

Coarse,

Knobbly

Texture (Base)

Pitted

Rough / Scabrous

Pitted,

Rough / Scabrous

Coarse

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Male

Colour(s)

Green-yellow

Flower Shape(s)

Male Non-staminate Flower

Arrangements

Male Inflorescence Cone

Pollinator(s)

Insects

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Separate Plant

Gender: Female

Colour(s)

Green-yellow

Flower Shape(s)

Female or Pistillate Flower

Aroma(s)

None

Pollinator(s)

Insects

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Separate Plant

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Cone Simple

Shape(s)

Ellipsoid

Oblong

Ellipsoid,

Oblong

Length

400-450mm, 450-500mm

400-450mm,

450-500mm

Root Properties

Type

Collaroid Root

Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root

Collaroid Root,

Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root

Invasiveness

None

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony

Clay-loam,

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Stony

pH Range(s)

Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline

Condition(s)

Damp

Moist

Moist-Dry

Damp,

Moist,

Moist-Dry

Fertile , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Watering Requirements

WR3 - never let soil dry out, WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering

WR3 - never let soil dry out,

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

None

Bird Attraction

None

Butterfly Attraction

None

Frog Habitat

None

Coastal

1st Line

Edible(s)

Nuts - Eaten after processing, Nuts - Eaten cooked

Nuts - Eaten after processing,

Nuts - Eaten cooked

Fire Retarding

Moderate

Drought Tolerance

Moderate

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Smog Tolerance

Good

Snow Tolerance

None

Landscape Use

Good

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Container, Fire Resistant, Foliage-Interesting, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Informal, Garden-Tropical, Irritating-Leaves, Shade Tolerant, Shady Dry, Shady Moist, Specimen, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Garden-Container,

Fire Resistant,

Foliage-Interesting,

Garden-Coastal,

Garden-Foliage,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Tropical,

Irritating-Leaves,

Shade Tolerant,

Shady Dry,

Shady Moist,

Specimen,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's,

Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Humidity Requirements

Medium, High

Medium,

High

Fertilising Requirements

FR6, FR11

FR6,

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Strong Winds

General Notes

A very hardy and adaptable cycad as a specimen planting in the garden or landscape. Older plants may form branches. When mature enough to form cones they can produce 2-5 inflorescence. A specimen in Kew Gardens is reported to be the oldest potted plant 1775 in the World.