10 Zululand Cycad, Holly Leaf Cycad 13 Uganda Giant Cycad, Encephalartos ferox Whitelock’s Cycad Encephalartos whitelockii A fairly small cycad with a subterranean trunk. This species has Characterized by stiff, 14-foot- a wide distribution in coastal areas of long leaves, this plant is a fast Mozambique and northern Natal, South grower. It is native to granite Africa where summers are hot and faces and rocky slopes in Central winters are mild. It grows in evergreen Africa, and can handle below- forests and sparse scrub sand dunes. freezing temperatures. This species produces some of the most colorful cones, Although hardy, E. whitelockii is very rare in ranging from scarlet to orange to pink. FUN FUN cultivation and is classified as Critically Endangered. FACT FACT 11 Gorongowe Cycad 14 Scaly Zamia, Encephalartos manikensis Count Peroffsky’s Cycad Lepidozamia peroffskyana Mountainous ridges and slopes in Mozambique and Zimbabwe are the Native to Australia’s wet, forested native habitat of this cycad. Several slopes and gullies, it’s also found in subspecies with distinct different many of the country’s public gardens features have been identified in because of its beautiful growth and Africa. However, at least one of the adaptability. And unlike most cycads, subpopulations is now extinct in its area. this one is spine-free making a garden-friendly specimen. Cycads have populated the planet since before the This species is pollinated by a type of weevil; up to 500 FUN dinosaurs —which likely dined on these plants! FUN weevils have been found on a single cone! FACT FACT Exclusive Video 12 Bushman’s River Cycad Encephalartos trispinosus Originally from South Africa, this small, but hardy species looks best when grown in full sun. It can also withstand moderate frosts. Once believed to be a form of E. horridus, it was identified as a separate species in 1965. Young cones are a distinct Find out how we help our cycads, by visiting this link: blue-green. sd.gozoo.org/cycad Made possible through the generosity of While its species name refers to the three sharp spines The Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation on the tips of each leaflet, new emerging leaves are FUN FACT incredibly soft and velvety. sandiegozoo.org Cycad the numbers to the plant ID signs. The tour startsMatch by Map Locator (ML) 4, continues along Front 4 Sago Palm, King Sago 7 Golden Dioon Street past ML 6 and finishes at ML 8. Cycas revoluta Dioon merolae Coontie, Florida Arrowroot Probably the most popular cycad This plant is especially valued 1 Zamia integrifolia in cultivation, this plant is endemic among cycad hobbyists, but to Japan’s Ryukyu Islands. In its over-collection in the wild has Endemic to Florida and southeastern native habitat, it grows in extensive caused it to be designated a Georgia, this small cycad is also found colonies and is readily distinguished Vulnerable species. Its native in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Cayman from other Cycas species by the habitat is forests in Chiapas and Islands, and the Bahamas. It is listed recurved margins on its leaflets. Oaxaca, Mexico. as Near Threatened due to habitat destruction for housing and agriculture. This is one of the most commonly grown cycads in the Older golden dioon plants often have reclining trunks, The Seminole Native Americans used the seeds as a landscaping industry. It is also very adaptable to growing FUN FUN while young plants always have “wooly” new fronds. source of edible starch. This plant is also a larval host for FACT in a container. In Japan, it is grown as a bonsai plant. FACT FUN FACT the atala butterfly. 2 Fern Palm, Queen Sago 5 Chestnut Dioon, Virgin Palm 8 Palma Teosinte (Sacred Ear) Cycas rumphii Dioon edule Dioon mejiae While most parts of cycads are Native to tropical deciduous and First collected in 1910, this hardy plant considered toxic to humans, the oak forests in Mexico. The leaves grows primarily in dry, rocky canyons seeds of this species are used are sometimes used in floral of Honduras, and has also been found by some cultures for the starch. arrangements, but the practice is in north-central Nicaragua. It‘s one However, it takes a great deal of now illegal because this species is of the most commonly grown Dioon, pounding, repeated washing, and threatened by over-collecting and and may be the most abundant cooking to make them suitable for habitat destruction. cycad in the world with an estimated the human stomach. 500,000 to 1,000,000 plants. The seeds of this cycad float! That’s an excellent The seeds are boiled, ground, and used for tortillas, The leaflets and seeds of this species grow smaller as adaptation for a plant that lives in coastal habitats, tamales, and other products in Honduras. The leaves FUN FUN you move north in its range. FUN FACT as queen sagos do. FACT FACT are used in religious celebrations. 3 Emperor Sago, Prince Sago 6 Cardboard Palm 9 Gum Palm, Giant Dioon Cycas taitungensis Zamia furfuracea Dioon spinulosum This endangered species is a This plant seldom grows a tall trunk One of the tallest of all cycads vigorous grower ; some people because its contractile roots pull the in the Americas, with trunks believe it is the fastest growing of caudex down into the ground. Found rising to almost 50 feet. Native all cycads. Its species name comes in the coastal regions of eastern to ravines and canyons in Mexico, from its native habitat: rocky Mexico, over-collecting has taken its this endangered species is slopes of Taitung County, Taiwan. toll and this species is endangered in threatened by habitat loss and the wild. over-collecting. This cycad was only identified as a distinct species Commonly grown in cultivation, it makes a great container It produces some of the largest cones, with a in 1994. Until that time, it was believed to be another FUN FUN plant for the deck, patio, or indoors as a houseplant. FUN female cone easily weighing up to 55 pounds. FACT species, Cycas taiwaniana. FACT FACT 10 Zululand Cycad, Holly Leaf Cycad 13 Uganda Giant Cycad, Encephalartos ferox Whitelock’s Cycad Encephalartos whitelockii A fairly small cycad with a subterranean trunk. This species has Characterized by stiff, 14-foot- a wide distribution in coastal areas of long leaves, this plant is a fast Mozambique and northern Natal, South grower. It is native to granite Africa where summers are hot and faces and rocky slopes in Central winters are mild. It grows in evergreen Africa, and can handle below- forests and sparse scrub sand dunes. freezing temperatures. This species produces some of the most colorful cones, Although hardy, E. whitelockii is very rare in ranging from scarlet to orange to pink. FUN FUN cultivation and is classified as Critically Endangered. FACT FACT 11 Gorongowe Cycad 14 Scaly Zamia, Encephalartos manikensis Count Peroffsky’s Cycad Lepidozamia peroffskyana Mountainous ridges and slopes in Mozambique and Zimbabwe are the Native to Australia’s wet, forested native habitat of this cycad. Several slopes and gullies, it’s also found in subspecies with distinct different many of the country’s public gardens features have been identified in because of its beautiful growth and Africa. However, at least one of the adaptability. And unlike most cycads, subpopulations is now extinct in its area. this one is spine-free making a garden-friendly specimen. Cycads have populated the planet since before the This species is pollinated by a type of weevil; up to 500 FUN dinosaurs —which likely dined on these plants! FUN weevils have been found on a single cone! FACT FACT Exclusive Video 12 Bushman’s River Cycad Encephalartos trispinosus Originally from South Africa, this small, but hardy species looks best when grown in full sun. It can also withstand moderate frosts. Once believed to be a form of E. horridus, it was identified as a separate species in 1965. Young cones are a distinct Find out how we help our cycads, by visiting this link: blue-green. sd.gozoo.org/cycad Made possible through the generosity of While its species name refers to the three sharp spines The Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation on the tips of each leaflet, new emerging leaves are FUN FACT incredibly soft and velvety. sandiegozoo.org Cycad.