Focus Focus Encephalartos Focus Cycad Focus horridus Focus Encephalartos horridus, meal of E. horridus’ Jurassic predecessors. Encephalartos horridus was fi rst de- the Eastern Cape scribed in 1801 by French botanist N.J. Blue Cycad Jacquin as Zamia horrida from a fi eld-col- lected plant cultivated in Vienna, Austria. Article by Figs. 1a and 1b are the lectotypes of the Maurice Levin and Lara Loewenstein species; Fig. 2 is the illustration from the (Photos by Maurice Levin unless noted) 1863 edition of Curtis’ Botanical Magazine Encephalartos horridus is the classic (89: t.5371). This species was transferred South African blue cycad. Its look is abso- to the genus Encephalartos and its gender lutely distinct among all cycads, combin- changed by German botanist J.G.C. Leh- ing an incredibly blue color with unusual mann in 1834. It has been at other times three-dimensional convex leafl ets unique called Zamia tricuspidata and Encephalar- in the cycad world. The specifi c epithet tos horridus var. hallianus. “horridus” is the Latin for “dreadful” or “horrible,” meant to describe the plant’s Habitat spiny appearance. Up close, one can sense Indigenous to South Africa’s Eastern the true meaning of “horridus” by backing Cape province (in Port Elizabeth and the unintentionally into this plant. However, Uitenhage districts), Encephalartos hor- when one walks away just a short dis- ridus fl ourishes best in desertic areas, tance, this plant’s magnifi cent sculptural alongside Euphorbia species, Aloe striata, quality and intensely blue foliage far off- Strelitzia juncea, and introduced Opun- set any sense of dread. tia species (prickly pear or beaver tail The Eastern Cape Blue cycad has stiff cactus), where rain averages 250-600 mm leaves of a markedly silvery-blue-gray (10-24 in) annually. The climate in these Fig. 2. IllustrationIllustration ofof EncephalartosEncephalartos horridushorridus color. The underside of the leaves is often areas is temperate, with frost occur- in Curtis’ Botanical Magazine, 1863 (t. 5371) a greenish-grey-silver mirror of the up- ring only rarely in the winter and tem- per side’s color. While the leaves start by peratures exceeding 40 C in the summer. growing straight, they fi nish with a lovely In fact, E. horridus’ blue color derives recurved habit. With the added three- from the leaves’ refl ective waxy coat- dimensional effect of its thorny leafl ets ing that increases with light intensity, so pointing in every direction, this cycad the plants become bluest when grown in epitomizes the term “living sculpture.” full sun, taking on more of a green tint in One can imagine that even the dinosaurs shade. would have had a hard time making a

Fig.Fig. 3. AAlbertolberto Tenorio withwith typicatypicall EncephalartosEncephalartos horridus fl anked by two “Dwarf Form” plants

a b

Fig. 1. Lectotype ofof ZamiaZamia horridahorrida fromfrom Jacquin (1800-1809) a) tab.tab. 27, femalefemale cone, Fig. 4. EncephalartosEncephalartos horridus in hillside planting,planting, caudex, sporophylls and seeds; b) tab. 28, male cone, sporophylls, caudex and leaves. fronted by two “Dwarf Form” specimens The Cycad Newsletter 31(1) March 2008 Page 4 Care and Cultivation freezing. However, like most cycads, it It’s important to remember that En- Due to its natural growing conditions, does best in cultivation when planted in cephalartos horridus is native to an arid Encephalartos horridus is relatively easy well-drained soil and can suffer from rot subtropical climate, where the plant to care for: it is drought tolerant, and if too close to a spraying water source. receives whatever rain it gets during the frost resistant to a several degrees below On one occasion when a mature specimen warm summer months and winters are of E. horridus was near a sprinkler in a very dry. So, particularly for those grow- customer’s garden, the crown rotted and ing E. horridus in mediterranean and arid the plant had to be excavated and treated climates, remember that these plants love with fungicide. Ultimately, it was saved heat, accompanied by moisture. Dur- and became a multi-headed plant. ing the summers, these plants react very positively to being well-watered, and they do not mind having wet, if warm feet. Conversely, in winter, E. horridus prefers a dry environment. In a mediterranean climate like that found along the Califor- nia coast, this means providing extremely good drainage when planting E. horridus. We have discovered that one of the best ways to do this is to fi ll the planting hole Fig. 5. Broad leafl et form of Encephalartos horridus “Dwarf Form” halfway with gravel, and actually install the plant atop the gravel, then infi ll and mound with a very porous soil mix. In this way, any rain or irrigation the plant receives during the winter will drain away from the roots. Encephalartos horridus also has rela- tively few pests. The only one of note is a small weevil (Antliarhinus zamiae), whose larvae completely consume the seed or endosperm of the plant. While not a major problem, this weevil does slow the reproduction of E. horridus in the wild, only adding to the problem of conserving these plants.

Distinct Forms Encephalartos horridus in its most Fig.Fig. 8. PPlantlant ofof EncephalartosEncephalartos horridushorridus well-known form is often misinterpreted “Steytlerville Form” in a hillside planting as a dwarf cycad. Its stem can reach 1.1 m in length, of which up to 70 cm will be above ground. The rest, due to the plant’s

Fig. 6. Star-shaped leafl et subform of Encephalartos horridus “Dwarf Form”

Fig.Fig. 9. Green-coGreen-coloredlored EncepEncephalartoshalartos horridushorridus in San Francisco Botanical Garden

FFig.ig. 7. EEncephalartosncephalartos horridushorridus Fig.Fig. 10. EncephalartosEncephalartos horridus Fig. 11. Seeds of different Encephalartos spp. “Steytlerville Form” leaf detail plant with uniquely spiny leaves Photo by Maurice Levin and Karista Hewes The Cycad Newsletter 31(1) March 2008 Page 5 contractile roots, remain underground, light, it can turn green. On a visit to the making the plant appear much shorter. San Francisco Botanical Gardens, I was The plant’s relatively short leaves also doing a garden walk discussing the cycads add to the impression that this is a dwarf in their facility, and I was told in hushed plant. tones, “You have to see our Encephalartos At least two distinct forms of Enceph- horridus!” Imagine my amazement when alartos horridus are known to exist. The we turned the corner and I was confront- typical form is found in the Eastern Cape ed with the plant pictured in Fig. 9, a Province’s Uitenhage district. Growing uniquely green E. horridus. Because sum- in the karoid veld, an arid subtropical mer temperatures rarely exceed the low climate zone, it is the best-known and 20’s C (low 70’s F), and skies are usually horticulturally most ideal form, found in overcast during the mild summers, this botanical gardens throughout the world. plant had apparently never acquired the Another form of this species is the blue-gray color normally associated with “Dwarf Form,” which grows in the sour- this species. veld high desert in hills near Port Eliza- Additionally, certain seed-grown plants beth in the Eastern Cape Province. All of will exhibit delightful variations in leaf its features (namely its leaves, leafl ets morphology. Fig. 10 shows a distinctly and stems) are much smaller than those spiny form of this plant. of the typical form, with stems rarely taller than 30 cm (12 inches). The sour- Cones and Seeds veld [sówr-vèlt ] is a South African region The cones of Encephalartos horridus, Fig.Fig. 12. GarGardenden plantingplanting ofof EncephalartosEncephalartos trispinosustrispinosus with poor pastureland - an area of high both male and female, appear during land with coarse grass and other plants the early summer, emerging fully by late that are poor fodder for livestock; it is fall, and dehiscing by early winter. Cones for this reason that the “Dwarf Form” is are generally solitary, although a male sometimes postulated as the same plant plant will occasionally produce two cones growing in a harsher climate (Grobbelaar, simultaneously. The female cones, which Cycads [2004]). measure about 20-40 cm (8-16in) long, Having grown both forms in our nurs- 12-20cm (6-8in) in diameter, as on other ery for nearly eight years side-by-side, we cycads, are usually a bit larger than the believe that these are indeed two distinct male cones, which usually measure 20-40 forms. Note the distinctly different fea- cm (8-16 in) long, 6-12 cm (2.4-4.7 in). tures in Figs. 3 and 4, even though both Both female and male cones are a reddish plants have been grown in an identical brown color due to a thin layer of hairs Fig.Fig. 13. Maria Suzette GuaGuadarramadarrama withwith reestablishedreestablished climate, the former at the same Southern that cover them. That reddish brown color offset of Encephalartos arenarius “Blue Form” California nursery, the latter in the same will gradually fade to a light green, as the Southern California hillside. Note, also, female cone matures and the hairs fall the different leaf forms of the “Dwarf off the cone. Please see the covers of this Form.” One form has a distinctly fl atter newsletter which show a dehiscing female leaf form, as seen in Fig. 5. In this form, cone (front cover) and a recently emerged it is as if the E. horridus has traveled to male cone (back cover). “Munchkin Land” and all of its vertical Seeds are on the medium-to-smaller features have been squeezed down, so size among Encephalartos genus. To get a that the leafl ets are the same width, but sense of seed sizes, please see Fig. 11 for half the height, and the leaves are half a visual comparison of seeds of differ- as long. A second, some say more desir- ent Encephalartos species currently being able form of the E. horridus “Dwarf Form” germinated at the Jurassic Garden/A&A is the starry leaf form, as seen in Fig. 6. Cycads nursery. Fig.Fig. 14. LeaLeaff detaildetail ofof In this form, the leafl ets are almost like Encephalartos arenarius “Blue Form” three-dimensional stars, extremely revo- Growth Habit lute, with very pointed thorns. The growth rate of Encephalartos hor- A third and distinct form of Enceph- ridus is moderate to slow compared to alartos horridus is known as the “Steytler- other Encephalartos species. Seed germi- ville” or “Addo” form. It is characterized nation takes three to six months; the fi rst by fl atter leafl ets, almost similar to those leaf appears within another six months. found in E. trispinosus. This form, which In ideal climate conditions, combining hot bears nearly identical cones to the typical summers, with chilly but not cold winters, form of the species, has quite dissimilar the plant can reach coning size within leafl ets from both the Uitenhage and Port 10-12 years. New leaves generally emerge Elizabeth plants, with the same coloration once per growing season, often alternat- as the regular form of E. horridus (Figs. 7 ing with coning events. If the plant is a and 8). female, it may cone and fl ush new leaves in alternate years. Differences Due to Environment When Encephalartos horridus does not Similar-Looking Encephalartos Fig.Fig. 15. EncephalartosEncephalartos arenarius with blue leaves, receive signifi cant heat and direct sun- A number of Eastern Cape Encephalar- reminiscent of E. horridus The Cycad Newsletter 31(1) March 2008 Page 6 tos species look similar to E. horridus. The Encephalartos fi rst is E. trispinosus, originally thought to be a variety of E. horridus, E. horridus horridus in Hawaii var. trispinosus until it was elevated to Article and Photos by Greg Holzman species status by Dyer in 1965. Enceph- Encephalartos horridus is a rewarding alartos trispinosus differs from E. horridus species to grow in any part of the world. in its narrower leafl ets, which are trans- It does take some horticultural knowledge versely concave, compared to those of to grow it without running into problems. E. horridus, which are convex and wider. Because of its sensitivity to moisture and Also, cones of E. trispinosus are a distinct humidity it has a tendency to prefer the blue-green color, later becoming yellowish more temperate regions of the USA to the green. Fig. 12 is a photo of a mature E. sub-tropical and tropical regions, such trispinosus plant. as Florida and Hawaii. This doesn’t mean Encephalartos arenarius is another we can’t grow it or even get it to cone. It species with leaf forms similar to E. hor- does mean that the chances of growing it ridus, particularly the blue form of that from a seedling or seed to maturity can be plant. The median leafl ets of the “Blue greatly reduced because of the amount of Form” of E. arenarius are signifi cantly rainfall and humidity we face every year. wider than those of E. horridus and have Pot culture is even more tricky if you want three to four lobes on their lower margin. to grow this species well. Well-draining Fig. 13 is a photo of a re-established off- live soils seem to work best. Leaf fungal set of E. arenarius (Blue Form), and Fig. problems, damping off of the stems and 14 for leaf images of a mature plant of rotting in the immense tap roots is always this species and form. an issue from one year to the next. Encephalartos arenarius, in its “regu- Once you have mastered the species’ lar form” also produces blue-leafed speci- early years, planting these cycads in the mens which exhibit a similar look to E. ground in a well drained location with horridus. These plants tend to have fl at- organic mulch top dressing for weeds and ter, broader and larger leafl ets than does cooling the root run will help to get the Fig.Fig. 16. GarGardenden settingsetting ofof blue-leaved Encephalartos arenarius E. horridus. Please see Figs. 15 and 16 for roots established. Full sun is the best lo- images of Blue Leafed E. arenarius plants cation, if for no other reason than to help in our nursery. with the occasional biblical proportions of Finally, mention should be made here rain that sometimes fall on Hawaii. of efforts to produce superior horticul- This species is coning in Hawaii and tural specimens by crossing E. arenarius in the last few years we have seen an with E. horridus. While “cycad alchemy” increase in Encephalartos horridus plants via crossing species is still a new and coning probably because of the age these controversial topic, it must be said that plants are reaching. This was my fi rst the cross between E. arenarius and E. great cycad that I encountered in my trav- horridus often produces a plant with true els in South Africa and it was the reason hybrid vigor. These plants seem to pro- for all my interest in cycads. So because duce longer leaves, and grow faster from of this, I am very fond of my E. horridus. seed than either of their parental species. There are many variants of this spe- Leaf length and size, compared with the cies. The typical Encephalartos horridus caudex size of this plant, demonstrate the produces a trunk, but the “Dwarf hor- Fig.Fig. 17. EncephalartosEncephalartos arenariusarenarius x horridushorridus -- Note fast and vibrant growth of this cross. Figs. ridus” is a low-growing plant that suckers blue cast to leaves with E. arenarius morphology 17 and 18 are examples of this cross. a lot making an immense bush over time. Encephalartos horridus continues to Plants from certain localities look a little become more and more popular among more like an Encephalartos trispinosus cycad enthusiasts, as well as environmen- cross than a typical E. horridus, with fl at tally conscious home gardeners. Due to leaves and neatly placed leafl ets. These this widespread popularity, we believe plants were given to me long ago by Bruce that increased prevalence and knowledge Bursey of South Africa as the “Addo hor- of this plant will result in growers around ridus.” It was a plant that caught my eye the world planting one or more in their at his garden and I never forgot it. Though gardens. This prominence would have the my plants have never quite achieved the added benefi t of reducing incentive to beauty that his had, I am certain that poach these plants from the wild. How- with time they will be some of the most ever, to achieve this end, signifi cant seed beautiful cycads in my garden. The blue propagation, cultivation and advertising is bright and the apical leaf tips make a of these plants must occur. That’s a huge 360 degree turn with all the leafl ets are effort, but we strongly believe that this placed in an overlapping pattern with will aid the preservation of these species, little twisting which can bring to mind the and hopefully ensure that this “far-from- species E. trispinosus in it’s lineage. dreadful” ancient treasure will have its Due to the diffi culty growing Enceph- Fig.Fig. 18. Vigorous Seed-grown sspecimenpecimen deserved place in gardens for many gen- alartos horridus from seed, I fi nd suckers of Encephalartos arenarius x horridus erations to come. much easier, probably because of their The Cycad Newsletter 31(1) March 2008 Page 7