Kloof Conservancy BioGuide - Forest Cycad
SA Tree Number none
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.
The leaves of this cycad are dark shiny green. A new flush of leaves emerges rapidly from the crown and these are covered with a dense layer of white hairs that are soon shed. Leaves can be 3m in length but about half this measurement is more typical.
Encephalartos villosus is one of the most common ornamental dwarf cycads in southern Africa. It is shade-loving and produces leaves which spread out gracefully, with glossy dark green leaflets. This species is a fast grower and in 5 to 8 years will develop into a substantial plant.
Much sought after by gardeners.
There are three species of cycad in Krantzkloof Nature Reserve. In addition to the E. villosus you will find the Natal Cycad (E. natalensis) which are most commonly seen. The Natal Cycad is rarer and grows mainly on inaccessible rock faces where it is safe from thieves. There are some magnificent examples in the reserve with stems up to 3/4m in height. The much rarer Grass Cycad (Stangeria eriopus) is found in the grasslands and is often mistaken for a fern!
There are also some good examples of the Natal Cycad at the Krantzkloof Conference Center
There are strict laws on the possession and removal of cycads.
Cycads are listed as Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) of 2004, therefore permits are required for posession and translocation of all indigenous cycads or cycad material.
The specific name villosus (Latin = hairy) refers to the young, newly sprouting leaves which are densely covered with white hairs. This species was described by C H Lemaire in 1867. In the 1800s this species was exported in large numbers and can be found growing in many conservatories in Europe.
isiZulu Translation:Sibusiso Chamane
Izikhathi zonyaka Kuhlala kuluhlaza
SA Tree Number Ayikho
Conservation Isimo Siphethe okuncane.
Encephalartos villosus inempande emfishane ephansi komhlaba, kakhulu noma kancane kuqhubeke nesiqu esikhulu. Kuzitshalo ezivuthiwe isiqu siphumela ngaphandle kancane kumhlabathi ongaphansi kodwa ayi ngaphezu kuka 30cm. Ingaphezulu lesiqu linoboya obuminyene. Amaqabunga esundu afiphele ngokucwebile. Ukuvuthuka kwamasha kwamaqabunga aphuma ngokushesha esihlokweni futhi ambozwe ungwengwezi olucinene lwezimpaphe ezimhlophe avuthuka ngokushesha. Amaqabunga angaba u, 3m ubude kodwa ingxenye yalesilinganiso soqobo.
Encephalartos villosus ingenye yesichwe somhlobiso sesundu esijwayeleke kakhulu eMzansi Afrika. Sithanda umthunzi futhi sikhiqiza amaqabunga ahlakazeka ngokuphiqilika, namaqabungana aluhlaza ngokuphaphatheka ngokucwebezelayo. Lenhlobo ikhula nogkushesha futhi eminyakeni engu 5-8 iyokhula ibe isitshalo esiqatha. Loluhlobo luvela kusuka E-East London (Monti) lunabele ngasempumalanga kuya ko Transkei, KwaZulu-Natal kanye nako, Swaziland. Lukude kakhulu ngokusabalala loluhlobo lwe, encephalartos eMzantsi Afrika. Lesithombo sikhula emahlathini nasezindaweni ezinompheme ezinezinga lemvula esuka ku 900-1300mm ngonyaka ezinyangeni zehlobo.
Isundu okuchaza ukuthi isithombo singaba isilisa no maisifazane.
Elesilisa ikhoni lika E.villosus liphuzi ngokumhlophe kuya kweliphuzi ngokuluhlaza futhi lisekelwe , peduncle ekhula kahle. Luzacile, njengeilinda futhi lucije kancane kuya esihlokweni, isilinganiso sika 60cm ubude kanye no 10cm idayamitha uqobo. Ngesikhathi sokuvuthuka kwesikhuphashe, ikhoni likhipha iphunga elinamandla eliheha isibalo esikhulu sama curculionid weevil, antliarhinus zamiae.
Amakhoni esifazane aphuzi ngokujulile (cadmium yellow to apricot) kanye nekhokhelwe ukukhula kahle kwepeduncle. Mafishane futhi ayindilinga kunawesilisa, isilinganiso sika 40cm x 20cm uqobo.
Kunohloo olubili lwamasundu eKrantzkloof Nature Reserve. Ukunezela ku, E.villosus uyothola isundu lase Natal (E.natalensis). Isundu lase Natal alivamile kanti likhula kakhulu ebusweni bamatshe angenakufinyeleleka lapho kuphephile kwizinswelaboya. Kunezibonelo ezibucwazicwazi esiqiwini ezinezimpande ezifika ku 3/4m ukuphakama.
Kunezinye izibonelo ezinhle kwi Natal Cycad eKrantzkloof Conference Centre.
Kunemithetho eqinile empahleni kanye nasekugudluzeni amasundu.
Lembali ibalwe njenge Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) ngokomkhawulo we National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) of 2004, ngakhoke kudungeka imvume yempahla nesabelo sazozonke izimbali zemvelo noma okuphathelene nazo.
Ibizo eliqondile levillosus (latin=hairy) liqonde kwamancane, amasha asamila amaqabunga lawo ambozeke acinaniswa uboya obumhlophe. Lenhlobo ihlaziywe ngu C.H. Lemaire ngo 1867. Ngo 1800s lenhlobo yathekeliswa kwizibalo ezinkulu kanye ungayithola ikhula kwezokongiwa eziningi e Europe.