Breadtree, Eastern Cape Cycad, Prickly cycad
Encephalartos altensteinii

Family: Zamiaceae

What it is like

A tall cycad. The stem is 6.5 m tall. The tree may or may not have branches. The leaves are 3 m long and are straight or curved backwards. The leaflets are rigid and broad. They are 15 cm long and can be 2.5 cm across. Usually there are teeth on the edges. The fruit are cones and usually 2-5 cones occur together. The male cones are greenish yellow and up to 50 cm long by 12 cm across and the female cones are 55 cm long by 28 cm wide. The female cone has protuberances over it. The seed are about 3.5 cm long. The are bright red.

There are about 50 Encephalartos species. Probably in a hot house in Slovenia.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It occurs in coastal regions. It grows in low forest and on rocky hillsides. It needs well drained soil. It can grow in part shade. In Adelaide Botanical Gardens. It grows in hardiness zones 10-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Indonesia, SE Asia, Singapore, South Africa (country/location of origin), Southern Africa

How it is used for food

The seeds have been recorded as eaten in times of famine. Normally they are regarded as poisonous. The gum from the cone is edible.

Edible parts

Seeds, gum, pith

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or suckers. It can be grown from pieces of the stem.

It is very slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Sikas raksasa afrika selatan

Synonyms

Bombax encephalartos J. Schust.; Zamia altensteinii (Lehm.) Heynh.; and others