Encephalartos dolomiticus
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encephalartos_dolomiticus
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Encephalartos dolomiticus faces severe threats from illegal collection for the horticultural trade, with mature plants commanding extremely high prices that drive poaching pressure. The species' extremely restricted range in the Mpumalanga dolomite outcrops makes entire populations vulnerable to localized disturbances. Habitat degradation from mining activities and agricultural expansion further compounds the species' precarious status, while the slow growth rate of cycads means recovery from population losses takes decades.
Habitat
This cycad is endemic to dolomite outcrops and rocky slopes in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, where it grows in shallow soils among limestone formations. The species typically occurs in grassland and savanna transitions at elevations between 1,200-1,500 meters, often in association with other specialized dolomite flora.
