Encephalartos ghellinckii

Lem. (1868)

Common names

Drakensberg cycad, Mont-aux-Sources cycad; isiDawu (Zulu) (Palmer & Pitman 1972).

Taxonomic notes

No data as of 2026-01-14.

Description

"The stem reaches a height of about 10 feet (roughly 3 m) and bears a somewhat open crown of straight or inward-curving leaves up to just over 3 feet (1 m) in length. These have very dense, pointed leaflets distinctively narrow - the middle ones less than [2-4 mm] wide - untoothed, with the margins rolled back, and bear a striking resemblance to fossil cycad leaflets of many million years ago. They are woolly and a greyish colour when young, becoming smoother and greenish-yellow or deep green with age. Two to 5 brown, densely woolly cones up to about [25 cm] long are borne together in the heart of the tree. The female cones, slightly shorter than the male, bear yellowish seeds. The cones resemble those borne by E. friderici-guilielmi Lehm. and E. cycadifolius (Jacq.) Lehm., but these species have broader leaflets" (Palmer & Pitman 1972).

Distribution and Ecology

South Africa: "The mountains - often high mountains - from near Flagstaff in the Transkei to roughly Mont-aux-Sources in Natal" (Palmer & Pitman 1972).

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2026-01-14.

Ethnobotany

No data as of 2026-01-14.

Observations

No data as of 2026-01-14.

Remarks

"The specific name honours M. Ed. de Ghellinch de Wolle, 'a noted amateur horticulturalist of Ghent'" (Palmer & Pitman 1972).

Citations

Lemaire, C. 1868. Ill. Hort. 79, t. 567.

See also

Africa Cycads provides good photos, distribution maps and descriptions for all African cycads, including Encephalartos.

The World List of Cycads.