Encephalartos laevifolius
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Encephalartos laevifolius faces severe pressure from illegal collection for the horticultural trade, with mature plants commanding extremely high prices that drive continued poaching from wild populations. Habitat degradation through agricultural expansion and urban development has further reduced available suitable sites. The species' extremely slow growth rate and limited reproductive capacity make recovery from population losses exceptionally difficult, while climate change threatens to alter the specific microhabitat conditions this cycad requires.
Habitat
This cycad species inhabits rocky outcrops and steep slopes in coastal and inland areas of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. It typically grows in well-drained soils among indigenous vegetation, often in areas with specific microclimatic conditions that provide protection from extreme weather.
