Poor Man's Cycad

Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Encephalartos villosus Lem.
Higher Classification
Gymnosperms
Family
ZAMIACEAE
Synonyms
Encephalartos striatus Stapf & Burtt Davy
Common Names
Ground Cycad (e), Isidwaba-somkhovu (z), Isigqikisomkhovu (z), Isikomakhoma Sehlati (z), Poor Man's Cycad (e), Stamlose Broodboom (a), Umgusa (x), Umphanga (x)
National Status
Status and Criteria
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2020/05/20
Assessor(s)
J.D. Bösenberg
Justification
A widespread species and one of the most common cycads in South Africa. There are numerous large subpopulations including several in protected areas. The species is therefore listed as Least Concern as the threats and declines are not severe enough to warrant any concern.
Distribution
Endemism
Not endemic to South Africa
Provincial distribution
Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal
Range
This species occurs from near East London in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, continuing through KwaZulu-Natal province and then on into the south-eastern parts of Eswatini. It occurs from 100 to 600 m asl.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Forest, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt
Description
It typically occurs as an understorey plant in sub-tropical coastal forest and in scrub, but subpopulations also occur in more temperate areas.
Threats
There is some evidence of collecting for ornamental purposes but this is a fast-growing species that is easy to cultivate. There is also some degree of habitat loss as a result of land clearing for agricultural purposes.
Population

Encephalartos villosus is a common and widespread species. There are several substantial subpopulations throughout its range with a total population probably in excess of 100 000 plants.


Population trend
Stable
Conservation
Plants occur in a number of nature reserves and Natural Heritage Sites.
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Encephalartos villosus Lem.Least Concern Raimondo et al. (2009)
Encephalartos villosus Lem.Lower Risk - Least Concern Scott-Shaw (1999)
Encephalartos villosus Lem.Not Threatened Hilton-Taylor (1996)
Encephalartos villosus Lem.Rare Hall et al. (1980)
Bibliography

Boon, R. 2010. Pooley's Trees of eastern South Africa. Flora and Fauna Publications Trust, Durban.


Donaldson, J.S. 1997. Is there a floral parasite mutualism in cycad pollination? The pollination biology of Encephalartos villosus (Zamiaceae). American Journal of Botany 84(10):1398-1406.


Goode, D. 1989. Cycads of Africa. Struik/Winchester, Cape Town.


Goode, D. 2001. Cycads of Africa Volume I. D&E Cycads of Africa, Gallo Manor.


Grobbelaar, N. 2003. Cycads. With special reference to the southern African species. (2nd ed.). Nat Grobbelaar, Pretoria.


Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.


Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.


Osborne, R. 1987. Focus on Encephalartos ghellincki. Encephalartos 12:16-23.


Raimondo, D., von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. and Manyama, P.A. 2009. Red List of South African Plants. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.


Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.


Citation
Bösenberg, J.D. 2020. Encephalartos villosus Lem. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/14

Comment on this assessment Comment on this assessment
Distribution map


Search for images of Encephalartos villosus on iNaturalist