Bread trees (Encephalartos spp.)

Family: Cycadaceae | Edibility: Edible (1/5)

Encephalartos are among the rarest and most endangered species of all cycads. As a carbon farming solutions suggested as an Industrial starch crop. Genera to investigate include: Cycas, Dioon, Encephalartos, Macrozamia, Microcycas, and Zamia . They make good ornamental landscape plants in borders, Containers, for massing, seashore, and as a specimen. They are drought-tolerant and suitable for xeriscaping.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Shoots

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

The pith of the trunk, in some species, contains large amount of high quality starch below the crown. This was formerly cut out by native people as food. — The pith of the trunk, in some species, contains large amount of high quality starch below the crown.; This was formerly cut out by native people as food.; Encephalartos, like all cycads, are toxic, but the pith, if buried for several years, gets the toxins leached out of it, and then it can safely be cooked into a bread-like food.

Habitat & North American Range

A tropical plant. Coastal evergreen bushland, lowland forest and dry montane rainforest on red loams and sandy soil, at elevations from sea level to 1,200 metres. Sandy plains and rocky hill tops. (Zone 9)