What is Encephalartos?
Encephalartos is a rare genus of cycads or seed plants from the family of the axiaceae. Cycads are a group of tropical plants that are recognized for their large crown of leaves of similar palms and robust tribes. Rod encephalartos comes mainly from the southern areas of Africa, but was also observed in the forests of Australia and South America. All species are on the endangered flora list. The species of this genus are classified as deciduous perennials that naturally grow in wet open forests, but can be grown in gardens for ornamental functions. Common names for these types of plants include the palms of bread, a tree of bread and Kaffir bread. Its elongated leaves can display dark green and bluish green colors depending on over -and -place and location. The most important feature of these rare plants is a cylindrical structure similar to cone that can be seen in the upper part of the trunk in the middle of its leaves. This is actually a reproductive male part of the plant where eventually appears four to five Žlutted or brownish yellow cone. encephalartos species with female parts are rarely visible.
The most common type of garden variety is encephalartos villosus , also known as Cycad of the poor man. This ornamental dwarf Cycad grows rapidly to a full height of 1.5 feet (0.4 m). Gentle white hair covers their long green leaves, which are attached to a stopwatch that can reach a length of 5 to 9 feet (1.5 to 3 m). Among the 62 species of this genus is Encephalartos villosus one of the varieties with a female reproductive cone that carries several red seeds. These are very expensive decorative plants that need a partial shadow for fully mature.
The type of palm of bread that has been documented that it has pure male samples is encephalartos Woodii or Woodova Cycad. Cycady female trees have not been found since the discovery of the species in 1895 in the forest ngoye in KwazulU-natal. It is known that this plant has long green glossy leaves arranged in a formation in the shape of an umbrella with six to eight yellow male cones in the middle of the leaves. Since the seeds are only possible in female cones, it is possible to spread only by planting the root key from the plant base. Fully mature Wood's Cycad can reach a height of 19 feet (6 m).
National and international legislation have been adopted for the protection of encephalartos . To sell, purchase and donate these types of plants, permission is required. Even the hybrids of this almost extinct family are covered with protective laws to ensure their long -term existence.