CONSERVATION STATUS:
- Threatened.
CULTIVATION:
- Shade to full sun.
- Regular watering.
Can sustain light frost.
PROPAGATION:
- Grows fast and is readily propagated from seed and suckers.
NATURAL HABITAT:
- Limpopo Province at several localities eg.
o Modjadji Nature Reserve near Duiwelskloof.
o Lekgalemeetse Reserve near Trichardtsdal.
o Mphaphuli Reserve near Thohoyandou at the eastern part of the Soutpansberg.
o North and west of Louis Trichardt in the Soutpansberg.
STEM:
- Aerial, erect stem that can sometimes become decumbent when long.
- Stems can form branches and can reach lengths of 14 meters.
- Diameter can reach 80 cm.
- This is truly a giant cycad.
- Stem apex is covered by brown wool that increases before new leaves emerge.
LEAVES:
- Leaves are dark olive green on the upper side with a dull light yellow green on the lower side.
- Leaves have a straight, stiff yellow rachis.
- Leaflets shield one another and have 2 – 5 teeth on the upper margin and 1 – 3 teeth on the lower margin.
- Leaflet margins tend to be recurved.
- Leaflets from the different localities differ somewhat morphologically.
