Encephalartos Princeps

[Frank Lew]

Hello, can someone help me identify this cycad. The nursery said it was a princeps but didn’t know where she got it. 
thank you in advance.

[Tracy]

3 hours ago, Frank Lew said:

can someone help me identify this cycad. The nursery said it was a princeps but didn’t know where she got it. 
thank you in advance.

Leaflet insertion angle is the best way to distinguish Encephalartos princeps from it's closest looking relative, which is Encephalartos lehmanii.  First photo is E princeps, next two are of E lehmanii flushing along with some older mature leaves.   E princeps has the leaflets inserted at an angle creating more of a stacking look than E lehmanii.  If mature enough to cone, there are also differences in the cones.  Both species develop a pretty large caudex before coning, so I wouldn't be surprised that yours hasn't coned yet.

[msporty]

Tracy's photos and description are spot on for the leaflet configuration. If you take the terminal leaflets between your fingers and flatten them you can tell them apart. Princeps will stack like "roof tiles" due to their insertion angles and lehmannii will not.

Also, the base of the petiole can help too. Lehmannii is swollen at the base and has a tan collar, while princeps does not.

Looking at your photos, it's pretty hard to tell for sure. The terminal leaflets look more like lehmannii, but photos can be deceiving. Also, your plant is only holding one flush and that makes it tough to interpret the petiole collars. Once cut, they can brown before falling off.

Either way, it's a great looking plant and it looks like it has some handsome friends in the background!

[Tracy]

On 1/4/2022 at 3:19 PM, Frank Lew said:

 

 

4 hours ago, msporty said:

Lehmannii is swollen at the base and has a tan collar, while princeps does not.

Good point on the leaf base collars.  E lehmanii can have the orange ring below the swollen tan collars, which is really noticeable when the caudex is wet.  E princeps collars aren't swollen, and I haven't ever seen one with the orange ring around it like with some E lehmanii.  E princeps first photo, E lehmanii second photo for comparison.

[msporty]

Tracy for the win with all the photos exemplifying the differences!!!