Encephalartos woodii One of the world’s rarest plants, this
cycad is now extinct in the wild. Only one tree was ever found – discovered in 1895 by Medley
Wood in the Ngoye Forest, Zululand. That single plant was male.
As no female plant existed to produce seed, new plants had to be
propagated by cuttings. Around 500 ‘clones’ now grow
in botanic gardens around the world. Why so rare? Some scientists speculate that this cycad was a natural hybrid
between E. natalensis and E. ferox and that there
were only ever a few specimens in the wild. FACT FILE
Grows up to 6 metres high
Has dark green, glossy leaves
Can produce 6-8 bright orange cones every few years
 Back
up to: temperate house plants
 On
to: Strelitzia
reginae
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