Encephalartos altensteinii
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID6440199c19524221710359 |
| Scientific name | Encephalartos altensteinii |
| Authority | Lehm. |
| First published in | Nov. Stirp. Pug. 6: 11 (1834) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
Suggest a correction!
Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Unfortunately, no reliable ethnobotanical sources document traditional medicinal or culinary preparations (such as teas, tinctures, decoctions, macerations, or poultices) for *Encephalartos altensteinii*. While cycads in general have complex histories of use elsewhere (often requiring extensive detoxification), specific verifiable information for this taxon is lacking.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Encephalartos altensteinii is cultivated primarily as an ornamental cycad. Mature plants produce a stout, columnar trunk that can reach 1–2 m after several decades, topped by a rosette of glossy, pinnate leaves up to 1.5–2 m long. The evergreen habit, architectural form, and tolerance to drought and moderate frost make it suitable for subtropical to warm‑temperate gardens, public botanical collections, and large indoor containers. In horticultural trade the species is marketed as a specimen plant for xeriscaping, shade gardens, and as a feature in cycad collections. Propagation for commercial sales is achieved mainly through seed germination and the removal of offshoots (pups) from mature specimens.
Properties relevant to use:
- Morphology: thick woody trunk and long, stiff leaves provide visual impact and structural stability.
- Physiology: high drought tolerance due to water‑conserving leaf architecture; can survive brief sub‑zero temperatures, allowing use in areas with light frost.
- Growth habit: very slow growth and longevity (plants can live >100 yr) reduce the need for frequent replacement.
- Adaptation: performs well in well‑drained soils and tolerates a range of light conditions from full sun to partial shade, facilitating flexible landscaping placements.
Standards and regulation:
All Encephalartos species, including E. altensteinii, are listed in CITES Appendix II, which requires export and import permits for international trade. In South Africa the National Biodiversity Management Plan for cycads mandates permits for wild collection of plants or seeds. Commercial nurseries must source material from legally compliant, cultivated stock and retain documentation of origin.
Sustainability and sourcing:
The majority of plants entering the ornamental market are produced in licensed nurseries from seed or vegetative propagules, thereby limiting pressure on wild populations. Sustainable practices include controlled seed collection, germination under controlled conditions, and the propagation of pups, which can be harvested without destroying the mother plant. Reintroduction programs have released cultivated seedlings into protected areas, but commercial trade remains dependent on cultivated material to meet CITES requirements.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Zamia vroomani | hort. ex Gentil | Pl. Cult. Serres Jard. Bot. Brux. : 194 (1907) |
| Zamia altensteinii | Heynh. | Nom. Bot. Hort. : 862 (1841) |
| Zamia katzeri | Regel ex J.Schust. | Pflanzenr. , IV, 1: 112 (1932) |
| Zamia glabra | hort. ex J.Schust. | Pflanzenr. , IV, 1: 112 (1932) |
| Zamia spinosa | Lodd. | Cat. n. 168; ex Miq. in Linnaea, xvii. (1843) 721. |
| Encephalartos altensteinii var. angustifolius | Miq. | Monogr. Cycad. 52. 1842 |
| Encephalartos altensteinii var. distans | Regel | Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 3(1): 114. 1874 |
| Encephalartos altensteinii var. eriocephalus | de Vriese | Ned. Kruidk. Arch. 1: 171. 1846 |
| Encephalartos altensteinii var. macrophyllus | Regel | Gartenflora 24: 41. 1875 |
| Encephalartos altensteinii var. parvifolius | Regel | Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 3(1): 114. 1874 |
| Encephalartos altensteinii var. semidentatus | Miq. | Monogr. Cycad. 52. 1842 |
| Encephalartos altensteinii var. spinosior | Regel | Gartenflora 24: 40. 1875 |
| Encephalartos marumii | de Vriese | Tijdschr. Natuurl. Gesch. Physiol. 5: 187 (1839) |
| Encephalartos regalis | W.Bull | Nursery Cat. (William Bull) 1889: 4 (1889) |
| Zamia vernicosa | auct. | Gard. Chron. 1868: 349 1868 |
| Encephalartos vroomii | Mast. | Gard. Chron. n.s., 25: 349 (1868) |
| Encephalartos altensteinii var. grandis | Regel | Gartenflora 24: 40. 1875 |
| Encephalartos longifolius var. hookeri | Miq. | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 16(2): 531-532 1868 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | bushman's river cycad |
| English | eastern cape cycad |
| English | eastern cape giant cycad |
| English | breadtree |
| Spanish | cica espinosa |
| Afrikaans | kafferbroodboom |
| Afrikaans | oos-kaapse broodboom |
| Afrikaans | oos-kaapse reusebroodboom |
| Afrikaans | kafferbrood |
| Czech | píchoš altensteinův |
| Persian | سرخس نخلی نان |
| Russian | Энцефаляртос Альтенштейна |
| xh | umguza |
| xh | umphanga |
| xh | isundu |
| Chinese | 面包非洲铁 |
| Chinese | 面包非洲鐵 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Africa click to expand
-
Southern Africa
- Cape Provinces
-
Southern Africa
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000667332 |
| Tropicos | 9600014 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:297067-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2788579 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 279644 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 616643 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 3300 |
| IUCN Red List | 41908 |
| IPNI | 297067-1 |
| iNaturalist | 136096 |
| GBIF | 2683722 |
| Freebase | /m/0fq37s1 |
| EPPO | ECFAL |
| EOL | 630828 |
| USDA GRIN | 319384 |
| Wikipedia | Encephalartos_altensteinii |
| CMAUP | NPO15216 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dieback and decline pathogens of olive trees in South Africa | Spies CF, Mostert L, Carlucci A, Moyo P, van Jaarsveld WJ, du Plessis IL, van Dyk M, Halleen F | Persoonia | 29-Oct-2020 |
|
||||||
| New species of Phaeomoniellales from a German vineyard and their potential threat to grapevine (Vitis vinifera) health | Kraus C, Damm U, Bien S, Voegele RT, Fischer M | Fungal Syst Evol | 29-Apr-2020 |
|
||||||
| Comparative Biology of Cycad Pollen, Seed and Tissue - A Plant Conservation Perspective | Nadarajan J, Benson EE, Xaba P, Harding K, Lindstrom A, Donaldson J, Seal CE, Kamoga D, Agoo EM, Li N, King E, Pritchard HW | Bot Rev | 05-Jul-2018 |
|
||||||
| Gymnosperms on the EDGE | Forest F, Moat J, Baloch E, Brummitt NA, Bachman SP, Ickert-Bond S, Hollingsworth PM, Liston A, Little DP, Mathews S, Rai H, Rydin C, Stevenson DW, Thomas P, Buerki S | Sci Rep | 16-Apr-2018 |
|
||||||
| Genomic Analyses of Cladophialophora bantiana, a Major Cause of Cerebral Phaeohyphomycosis Provides Insight into Its Lifestyle, Virulence and Adaption in Host | Kuan CS, Cham CY, Singh G, Yew SM, Tan YC, Chong PS, Toh YF, Atiya N, Na SL, Lee KW, Hoh CC, Yee WY, Ng KP | PLoS One | 29-Aug-2016 |
|
||||||
| Fungal Planet description sheets: 320–370 | Crous PW, Wingfield MJ, Guarro J, Hernández-Restrepo M, Sutton DA, Acharya K, Barber PA, Boekhout T, Dimitrov RA, Dueñas M, Dutta AK, Gené J, Gouliamova DE, Groenewald M, Lombard L, Morozova OV, Sarkar J, Smith MT, Stchigel AM, Wiederhold NP, Alexandrova AV, Antelmi I, Armengol J, Barnes I, Cano-Lira JF, Castañeda Ruiz RF, Contu M, Courtecuisse PR, da Silveira AL, Decock CA, de Goes A, Edathodu J, Ercole E, Firmino AC, Fourie A, Fournier J, Furtado EL, Geering AD, Gershenzon J, Giraldo A, Gramaje D, Hammerbacher A, He XL, Haryadi D, Khemmuk W, Kovalenko AE, Krawczynski R, Laich F, Lechat C, Lopes UP, Madrid H, Malysheva EF, Marín-Felix Y, Martín MP, Mostert L, Nigro F, Pereira OL, Picillo B, Pinho DB, Popov ES, Rodas Peláez CA, Rooney-Latham S, Sandoval-Denis M, Shivas RG, Silva V, Stoilova-Disheva MM, Telleria MT, Ullah C, Unsicker SB, van der Merwe NA, Vizzini A, Wagner HG, Wong PT, Wood AR, Groenewald JZ | Persoonia | 10-Jun-2015 |
|
||||||
| Introducing the Consolidated Species Concept to resolve species in the Teratosphaeriaceae | Quaedvlieg W, Binder M, Groenewald JZ, Summerell BA, Carnegie AJ, Burgess TI, Crous PW | Persoonia | 15-May-2014 |
|
||||||
| Cloning and Functional Characterization of a Gene for Capsanthin-Capsorubin Synthase from Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium Thunb. ‘Splendens’) | Jeknić Z, Morré JT, Jeknić S, Jevremović S, Subotić A, Chen TH | Plant Cell Physiol | 24-Sep-2012 |
|
||||||
| Foliicolous microfungi occurring on Encephalartos | Crous PW, Wood AR, Okada G, Groenewald JZ | Persoonia | 22-Oct-2008 |
|
||||||
| Floral benzenoid carboxyl methyltransferases: From in vitro to in planta function | Effmert U, Saschenbrecker S, Ross J, Negre F, Fraser CM, Noel JP, Dudareva N, Piechulla B | Phytochemistry | 01-Jun-2005 |
|
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Himeic Acid A | 11774903 | Click to see | 435.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| himeic acid B | 21579676 | Click to see | 321.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| himeic acid C | 21777983 | Click to see | 434.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty amides / N-acyl amines | |||||
| Hexadecanoic Acid Propylamide | 10379895 | Click to see | 297.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| Alloxanthin | 6443740 | Click to see | 564.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Carotenes | |||||
| Beta-Carotene | 5280489 | Click to see | 536.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (1R)-3,5,5-trimethyl-4-[(3E,5E,7E,9E,11E,13E,15E,17E)-3,7,12,16-tetramethyl-18-[(1R)-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl]octadeca-3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17-octaen-1-ynyl]cyclohex-3-en-1-ol | 101289802 | Click to see CC1=C(C(CC(C1)O)(C)C)C#CC(=CC=CC(=CC=CC=C(C)C=CC=C(C)C=CC2C(=CCCC2(C)C)C)C)C | 550.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2Z,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E)-3-Hydroxy-19-((4R)-4-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-1-((1R,4S)-4-hydroxy-1,2,2-trimethylcyclopentyl)-4,8,13,17-tetramethyl-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16-nonadecaoctaen-18-yn-1-one | 11365423 | Click to see | 598.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 19'-Hexanoyloxyisomytiloxanthin | 16061209 | Click to see | 713.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Amarouciaxanthin B | 16061221 | Click to see | 596.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Anhydroamarouciaxanthin B | 23428237 | Click to see | 578.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| cis-(4R,5R)-4-hydroxy-4-[(3E,5E,7E,9E,11E,13E,15E)-18-[(4R)-4-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl]-3,7,12,16-tetramethyl-2-oxooctadeca-3,5,7,9,11,13,15-heptaen-17-ynyl]-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexan-1-one | 23428074 | Click to see | 598.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Halocynthiaxanthin | 11966451 | Click to see | 598.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| NV766Twa77 | 102146782 | Click to see | 600.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pectenol A/(Pectenol) | 16061215 | Click to see CC1=C(C(CC(C1)O)(C)C)C#CC(=CC=CC(=CC=CC=C(C)C=CC=C(C)C=CC2=C(C(C(CC2(C)C)O)O)C)C)C | 582.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Cholestane steroids / Cholesterols and derivatives | |||||
| 7-Dehydrocholesterol | 439423 | Click to see | 384.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Ergostane steroids / Ergosterols and derivatives | |||||
| Brassicasterol | 5281327 | Click to see CC(C)C(C)C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C | 398.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ergosterol | 444679 | Click to see CC(C)C(C)C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2=CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C | 396.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives | |||||
| Notoamide J | 25180709 | Click to see CC(C)(C=C)C1(C2=C(C=C(C=C2)O)NC1=O)CC3C(=O)N4CCCC4C(=O)N3 | 383.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids | |||||
| Betaine | 247 | Click to see | 117.15 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| N,N,N-trimethylglycinium | 248 | Click to see | 118.15 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids / L-alpha-amino acids | |||||
| L-Arginine | 6322 | Click to see | 174.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Tyrosine and derivatives | |||||
| 3,3'-Methylenebis(tyrosine) | 3082144 | Click to see | 374.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Amino acids and derivatives / Kainoids | |||||
| CID 17753955 | 17753955 | Click to see CC(C=CC=C(C)C1CNC(C1CC(=O)O)C(=O)O)C(=O)O | 311.33 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Domoic acid C5'-diastereomer | 5311075 | Click to see | 311.33 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isodomoic acid F | 101790920 | Click to see CC(C=CC=C(C)C1CNC(C1CC(=O)O)C(=O)O)C(=O)O | 311.33 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Organic sulfonic acids and derivatives / Organosulfonic acids and derivatives / Organosulfonic acids | |||||
| Taurine | 1123 | Click to see | 125.15 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic nitrogen compounds / Organonitrogen compounds / Amines / Alkanolamines / 1,2-aminoalcohols / N-acylethanolamines | |||||
| Anandamide | 5281969 | Click to see | 347.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Ketones / Beta-hydroxy ketones | |||||
| Aspermytin A | 9993091 | Click to see | 266.38 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Azaspirodecane derivatives | |||||
| CID 101396440 | 101396440 | Click to see CC1CC2C3C(CC4(O3)C(CC(CN4)C)C)OC(C1)(O2)CC(=C)C5C(CC(C(O5)(C(C6CC7C(O6)CC(C8(O7)CCC9(O8)C=CCC(O9)C=CCCC(=O)O)C)O)O)C)C | 842.10 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzodiazepines / 1,4-benzodiazepines | |||||
| (3R,3'R)-3'-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylspiro[1H-1,4-benzodiazepine-3,2'-oxirane]-2,5-dione | 92278353 | Click to see CN1C(=O)C2=CC=CC=C2NC(=O)C13C(O3)C4=CC(=CC=C4)O | 310.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 1-benzopyrans / 2,2-dimethyl-1-benzopyrans | |||||
| (3S,8aS)-3-[[(3R)-7,7-dimethyl-3-(2-methylbut-3-en-2-yl)-2-oxo-1H-pyrano[2,3-g]indol-3-yl]methyl]-2,3,6,7,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione | 16127840 | Click to see | 449.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide A | 16128040 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C=CC3=C2N(C(=O)C34CC56C(C4(C)C)CC7(CCCN7C5=O)C(=O)N6)O)C | 463.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide B | 16127923 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C=CC3=C2NC(=O)C34CC56C(C4(C)C)CC7(CCCN7C5=O)C(=O)N6)C | 447.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide H | 25180895 | Click to see | 479.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide O | 102043608 | Click to see | 479.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide Q | 46919487 | Click to see | 479.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sclerotiamide | 10647785 | Click to see | 463.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives / Pyrroloindoles | |||||
| Notoamide D | 16127841 | Click to see | 449.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide K | 25180896 | Click to see | 465.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide P | 46919486 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C3C(=CC(=C2O1)Br)C4(CC5(C(=O)N6CCCC6C(=O)N5C4(N3)C(C)(C)C=C)O)O)C | 544.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Phenylquinolines | |||||
| Viridicatol | 115033 | Click to see C1=CC=C2C(=C1)C(=C(C(=O)N2)O)C3=CC(=CC=C3)O | 253.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Pyrroloquinolines | |||||
| (+)-Stephacidin A | 16127922 | Click to see | 431.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide F | 25180710 | Click to see | 461.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide G | 25180707 | Click to see | 477.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide I | 25180708 | Click to see | 445.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide R | 46919488 | Click to see | 447.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Saxitoxins, gonyautoxins, and derivatives | |||||
| [(3aS,4R,10aS)-2,6-diamino-9,9,10,10-tetrahydroxy-3,3a,4,8-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-c]purin-4-yl]methoxycarbonylsulfamic acid | 102411283 | Click to see | 411.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(3aS,4R,9S,10aS)-2,6-diamino-9,10,10-trihydroxy-3a,4,8,9-tetrahydro-3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]purin-4-yl]methoxycarbonylsulfamic acid | 44587284 | Click to see | 395.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 11,11-Dihydroxysaxitoxin | 102411284 | Click to see | 331.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 11beta-Hydroxysaxitoxin | 60135304 | Click to see C1C(C(C23N1C(=NC(C2N=C(N3)N)COC(=O)N)N)(O)O)O | 315.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |