South Africa has an amazing heritage of Cycads ranging in variety from dwarf species to truly giant species, with considerable diversity in leaf colour and leaf forms. An interesting and sometimes confusing factor is that variation exists between different localities of the same species, reasons being:
With regards to the different locality variations, we aspire to provide correct, relevant, interesting and verified facts to cycad enthusiasts.
1) E. ghellinckii
The current description of E. ghellinckii includes the plants that grow at a high altitude of 1500 – 2500 meter above sea level in the Mont-Aux-Sources area of the KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg, as well as the plants that grow at the foothills of the Drakensberg in the catchment area of the Umkomaas river at an elevation of ± 1000 meters above sea level.
"The plants from these 2 localities are also known as –
i) Mont-Aux-Sources ghellinckii
- Difference in growing conditions between the various localities e.g., soil, rainfall, temperature, sun or shade.
- Genetic differences between localities. These differences can lead to a contentious issue begging the question: “What is the determining factor/s for dividing a specie into two or more species?”
With regards to the different locality variations, we aspire to provide correct, relevant, interesting and verified facts to cycad enthusiasts.
1) E. ghellinckii
The current description of E. ghellinckii includes the plants that grow at a high altitude of 1500 – 2500 meter above sea level in the Mont-Aux-Sources area of the KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg, as well as the plants that grow at the foothills of the Drakensberg in the catchment area of the Umkomaas river at an elevation of ± 1000 meters above sea level.
"The plants from these 2 localities are also known as –
i) Mont-Aux-Sources ghellinckii
- Mountain / Berg ghellinckii
- Giant form ghellinckii
- Dwarf form of ghellinckii
Mountain ghellinkii:
This high altitude form of E.ghellinckii is a very handsome cycad. These plants can withstand extreme temperatures – In winters they are exposed to severe frost and sometimes snow. They are also exposed to grass fires as the pitch-black stems are often evidence of these fires.
Because of the extreme temperatures, this cycad is often referred to as the “ICE and FIRE” Cycad. When new leaves form, the black stems contrasting to the new bright green leaves makes for a beautiful picture. .
Because of the extreme temperatures, this cycad is often referred to as the “ICE and FIRE” Cycad. When new leaves form, the black stems contrasting to the new bright green leaves makes for a beautiful picture. .
There are multiple differences between the various forms of ghellinckii.
1) The mountain / Giant ghellinckii is a much larger and a more robust plant, with stems of 3 meter and a diameter of 30cm – 40cm. The Lowland form of ghellinckii seldom develop stems of longer than 1.5 meter with diameters of 20cm – 30cm. The Lowland form also has the tendency to develop cluster stems with often up to 10 short stems. The Impendle (Dwarf) ghellinckii seldom develop stems of more than 50cm with diameters that can vary from 15cm to 25cm. In addition they have the tendency to develop clusters of small stems.
1) The mountain / Giant ghellinckii is a much larger and a more robust plant, with stems of 3 meter and a diameter of 30cm – 40cm. The Lowland form of ghellinckii seldom develop stems of longer than 1.5 meter with diameters of 20cm – 30cm. The Lowland form also has the tendency to develop cluster stems with often up to 10 short stems. The Impendle (Dwarf) ghellinckii seldom develop stems of more than 50cm with diameters that can vary from 15cm to 25cm. In addition they have the tendency to develop clusters of small stems.
2) The stem apex of the Mountain ghellinckii is covered with a layer of golden brown wool while the Lowland ghellinckii and Impendle ghellinckii do not have this brown woolly covering but either cataphylles with no covering or cataphylles covered with a whitish felt like layer.
3) When flushing a new set of leaves the leaves of the Mountain ghellinckii are covered with golden brown hair and the Lowland – and Impendle ghellinkii’s leaves are covered with a whitish silvery layer of hair.
3) When flushing a new set of leaves the leaves of the Mountain ghellinckii are covered with golden brown hair and the Lowland – and Impendle ghellinkii’s leaves are covered with a whitish silvery layer of hair.
- New Leaves of Mountain and lowland forms of ghellinckii.
4) It is well known that E.ghellinckii (Lowlands form) and the Impendle form are extremely slow growing plants. In contrast, the Mountain ghellinckii is a much more robust plant that grows much easier and faster than the other forms of E. ghellinckii.
- Female cone lowlands E.ghellinckii.
5) With aging of the leaves the hair will disappear. The Lowland form leaves often droop to an almost horizontal level giving it an untidy appearance. In contrast the Mountain and Impendle forms will keep their leaves in the upright “wine glass” appearance. The leaflets of the Giant form of E. ghellinkii are broader than the leaflets of the Lowland and Dwarf form of E. ghellinkii. The rachis of all forms become yellow with age and has an upright curve.
