About Encephalartos longifolius (Jacq.) Lehm.
Encephalartos longifolius, commonly called breadpalm, grows up to three meters tall, and develops a very thick trunk as it ages. The trunk is topped by a crown of dark or metallic green, semi-glossy, arching leaves. These leaves can reach up to two meters long and are moderately keeled. Its leaflets are lanceolate, overlap toward the upper part of the leaf, and have smooth margins. This species produces one to three green, ovoid male pollen cones that measure 40 to 60 centimeters long and 15 to 20 centimeters in diameter; these are the largest pollen cones within their genus. It produces a similar number of green female cones, which are more robust and can reach up to forty centimeters in diameter. Its seeds are red and can grow up to five centimeters long. This species is native to coastal regions of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, where it occurs at elevations up to six hundred meters. It grows in a range of different habitats across mountain ridges, extending from west of Joubertina in the Kouga mountains east to near Grahamstown. While the species grows across many distinct locations, its overall populations are declining.
