Cycads

Cycads have existed for nearly 300 million years and are among the most primitive seed plants. It’s hard to imagine, but these ancient plants witnessed both the rise and extinction of the dinosaurs. As a plant group, they survived two mass extinctions, yet today only a few species remain, and these are now seriously threatened.

Cycads can be found throughout the Hortus. The largest and oldest specimens are housed in the Palm House, including the 300-year-old Eastern Cape Cycad (Encephalartos altensteinii) and the extinct-in-the-wild Encephalartos woodii, of which only 1 single male plant remained.

In the Palm House, the exhibition ‘Survivors from Prehistoric Times’ tells the story of this remarkable plant group. The exhibition was created and designed by Meta Menkveld.