Encephalartos Latifrons Crown Devel

[GDLWyverex]

Here are the first few pics of my E. Latifrons in the first throws of growing a new crown, the second this year. Requested by 5150Cycad

A good deal of blood was lost acquiring these photos.

More photos to follow as the crown develops

 

Edited November 22, 2016 by GDLWyverex

[doranakandawatta]

Bloody plant ! 

Nice pictures of an interesting species, thanks for sharing.

Philippe

 

[5150cycad]

I have lost quite a bit of blood over the years from my obsession of collecting Cycads. I think with most people it is either you love them or you hate them. My wife hates them. Too bad for her as my yard is littered with them. Thank you for  sacrificing some blood for the photographs. They look great. I never got 2 flushes a year with my Latifrons 

[Big50]

Are you sure that is a latifrons?.

[GDLWyverex]

Pretty much, though I would not bet my life on it. It might be one of the popular hybrids if latifrons that have been showing up, though I don't think so.

5150cycad has a latifrons to compare against the photos of mine, What say you 5150cycad?

 

[GDLWyverex]

I bought it 3 years ago from a nursery here in Guadalajara. It was sold to me as a basket fern for 35 dollars whch I grabbed faster that you can imagine as that represented a 20000% discount. |-) e. latifrons that size runs about 6000.00 dollars.

It obviously isn't a basket fern

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

I've never seen a latifrons in person, and didn't  realize they look so much like a ferox. 

[LJG]

Looks like a Encephalartos ferox

[GDLWyverex]

Looks alot like ferox which is shade loving and has red cones.

Mine has yet to cone but lives, for the last 3 years, in full blast, intense Mexican sunlight with absolutely no shade and seems to be very happy. I guess I will know for sure when it cones.

There are so many variations of leaf shape in both latifrons and ferox, though from looking at the photos, it really DOES look like ferox. Maybe I should move it out of the sun, though it seems to be very happy there.

[Brian]

Looks like ferox to me also. I have ferox in full sun on the coast of Michoacan, which is much hotter then Guadalajara and they look great. Either way, thats a great find in Mexico and good looking plant. If you are interested in palms and cycads in Mexico shoot me a PM.

Here is my ferox from last July,

 

 

 

[The Silent Seed]

Awesome plant - even if it's a ferox - I feel especially sorry for anybody walking on the path in the last picture! 

[GDLWyverex]

The African Encephalartos are designed to discourage elephants from stepping on them

[The Silent Seed]

Mine do a good job keeping ME from stepping on them! :) 

[Palmzilla]

Enc. Ferox 100 % 

[5150cycad]

17 hours ago, GDLWyverex said:

Pretty much, though I would not bet my life on it. It might be one of the popular hybrids if latifrons that have been showing up, though I don't think so.

5150cycad has a latifrons to compare against the photos of mine, What say you 5150cycad?

 

I was actually questioning that myself. Can you take some pictures from the top looking down. One distinct characteristic of the latifrons is the sandpaper like texture on the underside of the leaf. It literally feels like sandpaper. Latifrons can easily be confused with arenarius and sometimes even ferox. Another question is how much did u pay for it? In Southern California, a one leaf seedling sells for over $450. Maybe George Sparkman can chime in as he probably better suited for a proper identification. 

[5150cycad]

12 hours ago, Brian said:

Looks like ferox to me also. I have ferox in full sun on the coast of Michoacan, which is much hotter then Guadalajara and they look great. Either way, thats a great find in Mexico and good looking plant. If you are interested in palms and cycads in Mexico shoot me a PM.

Here is my ferox from last July,

 

 

 

Great looking ferox. I have a ferox in full blazing Escondido sun and it thrives. Dark green glossy prickly as shi$ leaves. 

[annafl]

Be happy with your Encephartos ferox!  It is my very favorite cycad of all the ones I've seen in person.  They always look good in my garden no matter what season or weather condition.  I have one known female that we acquired for $10 in a one gallon from a tiny nursery eleven or twelve years ago.  The first photo is of a flush in progress.  She is less compact and a little more graceful as she is in quite a bit of shade.   The next is of a known male and has been in our garden for eleven years.  He is in quite a bit of shade in winter, but in full-blazing Florida sun about 2/3 of the day in summer and does well adapting despite the changes. He is a bit more compact and this year put out five cones.  Only four are visible in this photo. 

Edited November 23, 2016 by annafl

[annafl]

 The last photo is of our female the first time she coned two years ago.  She has three cones forming nicely now and I'll post her soon.  I love this plant and am so happy we placed it in a fairly prominent spot in our garden!

Edited November 23, 2016 by annafl

[5150cycad]

13 minutes ago, annafl said:

 The last photo is of our female the first time she coned two years ago.  She has three cones forming nicely now and I'll post her soon.  I love this plant and am so happy we placed it in a fairly prominent spot in our garden!

Anamarie, 

Those ferox are grown to perfection. I think the  ferox is one of the most underestimated cycads in the  Encephalartos family, especially when they enhibit those beautiful red cones with the glossy dark green leaves as a backdrop. My only complaint is that they are one of the most prickly out of the Encephalartos. 

[annafl]

Thanks so much, Bryan!  The truth is that they've grown themselves, practically.  Very little has been provided.  Yes, we've shed blood also, mostly transferring a large Dioon spinulosum from another property!

[Palm Tree Jim]

On 11/22/2016, 9:04:25, LJG said:

Looks like a Encephalartos ferox

Agree with Len on this.

[GDLWyverex]

can someone tell me what this icon that I see with every message that is posted signifies?

[doranakandawatta]

That means I found your post very interesting and I add one point to your good reputation.( now 8)

That happens mostly to Pal Meir having the highest reputation thanks to his yellow Audi (lol), (now 2'092)

If your wonder what the yellow Audi is doing in this post, please ask or use the search engine. 

 

 

[Tracy]

On 11/22/2016, 2:29:31, GDLWyverex said:

Pretty much, though I would not bet my life on it. It might be one of the popular hybrids if latifrons that have been showing up, though I don't think so.

5150cycad has a latifrons to compare against the photos of mine, What say you 5150cycad?

 

 

On 11/22/2016, 6:04:25, LJG said:

Looks like a Encephalartos ferox

While I agree with Len, I find it useful to see not just close ups of part of a plant but a full perspective as well.  In particular with Encephalartos species, the base leaflets can change significantly from the ones closer to the midpoint of the rachis and tip.  An example would be the differences seen in these two photos, one showing primarily the base leaflets near the caudex and the other showing the entire plant.  I just find it more informative to use in assessing them.  See if it helps you in identifying this Encephalartos.