Encephalartos manikensis (Gilliland) Gilliland
Gorongowe cycad, Manica cycad
This cycad originates in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and is not found in the wild in North America.
Identification: These robust cycads have stout trunks up to 5′ (1.5 m) high. Leaves are 3–6′ (1–1.9 m) long, composed of about 60 pairs of pinnae (leaflets), with lower pairs becoming smaller. The largest pinnae are 4½–6″ (12–15 cm) long about ¾–⅞″ (2–2.5 cm) wide, tipped with one or two spines. Male cones 10–24″ (25–60 cm) tall occur in groups of 1-4. Female cones are somewhat larger, and woolly. These are an endangered species.
Online References:
Encephalartos gratus var. manikensis Gilliland
2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Cycadophyta | All cycads—primitive palm-like plants |
| Class | Cycadopsida | Cycads |
| Order | Cycadales | Living cycads (most are extinct) |
| Family | Zamiaceae | Cycas that are superficially palm- or fernlike |
| Genus | Encephalartos | Bread palms, bread tree, or Kaffir bread because they produce a breadlike starchy food |
| Species | manikensis | Pleasant or pleasing |
Encephalartos manikensis description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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