Ground cycad, Poor man's cycad
Encephalartos villosus
Family: Zamiaceae
What it is like
A small cycad. It forms clumps. The stems are 40 cm tall and 25 cm across. The young leaves have white hairs. The mature leaves are dark green and shiny. They are light green underneath. They are 3 m long. The female cones are deep yellow. There are many seeds.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant. It grows in lowland forests and temperate regions wit a summer rainfall of 1,000-1,250 mm each year. It grows in places with a mild, dry winter.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Australia, East Africa, Eswatini, Indonesia, Mozambique, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa (country/location of origin), Swaziland
How it is used for food
The pith of the stem is edible and makes good quality starch.
Edible parts
Stem - starch
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds or suckers.
Its other names
Local names
Lisitsa, Mayiphuku, Sikas bulu