In the early 1900s, the Afrikaans naturalist, poet, and writer Eugène Nielen Marais — author of The Soul of the Ape and Die Siel van die Mier — was living in the remote Waterberg mountains of what was then the Transvaal. During a six-month expedition into the interior of the range, he encountered an unusual blue-leaved Encephalartos growing on sandstone ridges near Entabeni and sent a specimen to the eminent botanist Rudolf Marloth in Cape Town. Marloth, convinced that no cycad could grow so far inland — at the time, all known Encephalartos species occurred in the eastern parts of the country — relabelled the specimen as originating from Nelspruit, hundreds of kilometres to the east. Marais died in 1936 without ever correcting the error. It fell to his niece, the botanist Inez Clare Verdoorn, to unravel the mystery: she discovered the mislabelling, launched a systematic search for the cycad in the Waterberg, found it, and in 1945 formally described it as Encephalartos eugene-maraisii — honouring the uncle whose discovery had been disbelieved for decades.
This is one of the great detective stories of African botany: a poet finds a cycad that no one believes exists, dies before it can be confirmed, and is vindicated posthumously by his own niece. The species that bears Eugène Marais’ name is worthy of the drama: a large, handsome, silver-blue cycad with trunks to 4 m, growing on sandstone ridges in one of South Africa’s most spectacular landscapes, surviving winters that would kill most tropical plants, and now facing extinction from the very collectors who prize its beauty.
Taxonomy and nomenclature
Encephalartos eugene-maraisii I. Verd. was first published in 1945 by Inez Clare Verdoorn (1896–1989), one of South Africa’s most distinguished botanists and a specialist in the country’s gymnosperm flora. The specific epithet honours her uncle, Eugène Nielen Marais (1871–1936), the celebrated naturalist, journalist, poet, and lawyer who first discovered and collected the species in the Waterberg between 1907 and 1916.
The species belongs to the northern blue-leaved complex of South African Encephalartos — a group of closely related species confined to the mountains of Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, characterised by glaucous (bluish-green to silvery-blue) foliage and adaptation to cold, seasonally dry montane grasslands. Its closest relatives include Encephalartos middelburgensis (Middelburg District), Encephalartos dyerianus (Limpopo), Encephalartos dolomiticus (Wolkberg), and Encephalartos cupidus (Mpumalanga Drakensberg). Within this complex, eugene-maraisii is distinguished by its leaflets with small or absent teeth — the margins are entire or bear at most a single tooth on the lower margin, giving the foliage a smoother, less armed appearance than species such as middleburgensis or dolomiticus.
Palmer & Pitman (1972) noted that “the long leaves have the tips slightly upcurved and this distinguishes the species at once from its southern relative, E. lehmannii” — the famous Eastern Cape blue cycad, which is geographically distant but superficially similar in its blue colouration.
Common names: Waterberg cycad (English); Waterberg-broodboom, bergpalm (Afrikaans); mofaka (Northern Sotho / Sepedi).
Morphological description
Habit and caudex: Encephalartos eugene-maraisii is a medium-sized to large cycad with a robust, erect trunk that sometimes becomes procumbent (reclining along the ground) with age. The trunk reaches 2.5–4 m in height (occasionally longer when procumbent) and 30–45 cm in diameter, often branching from the base to form multi-stemmed clumps. The crown bears soft, whitish cataphylls. The trunk is covered with small, regular, tomentose leaf bases.
Leaves: The fronds are rigid, 0.7–1.5 m long, and a striking light bluish-green colour — the inner, newly emerging leaves are a particularly vivid silvery-blue, providing a spectacular flush of colour that is one of the species’ most admired horticultural features. The leaves are slightly curved downward, with the tip characteristically curved slightly upward — the “recurved tip” that Palmer & Pitman identified as the immediate field distinction from Encephalartos lehmannii.
The median leaflets measure 150–200 mm long and 13–18 mm wide, are leathery, and lack nodules. The leaflet margins are not thickened and are entire (smooth-edged) except for the occasional single tooth on the lower margin — a key diagnostic character that separates eugene-maraisii from the more heavily toothed species in the northern blue complex (middelburgensis, dolomiticus). Basal leaflets are reduced to one or two spines at most.
Reproductive structures: Both male and female cones are produced in December and are distinctive for their reddish-brown appearance — caused by a dense layer of tawny hairs covering the greenish-grey underlying cone tissue. This tomentose covering gives the cones a warm, russet quality unusual among blue-leaved Encephalartos.
Male plants produce 1–8 cones per stem per season, 200–450 mm long and 60–100 mm in diameter. The male cones emit a strong odour during pollen shedding (February–March) — a thermogenic response that attracts the species-specific pollinating beetle, Apinotropis verdoornae, which was discovered on this cycad by Inez Verdoorn herself and is named in her honour. The beetles lay eggs, develop as larvae, and pupate within the male cones, emerging as adults by boring through the microsporophylls — a classic example of obligate cycad-beetle mutualism.
Female plants produce 1–6 cones per stem per season, 300–500 mm long and 160–200 mm in diameter. The female cones do not disintegrate spontaneously at maturity (unlike many Encephalartos species) but instead dry out from May to August. Seeds are light brown, 35–44 mm long and 23–30 mm in diameter — dispersed by monkeys, birds, rodents, and bats that feed on the sarcotesta.
Distribution and natural habitat
Encephalartos eugene-maraisii is endemic to South Africa, confined to the Waterberg Range in Limpopo Province. The species grows along the highest parts of the Sandrivierberg range, from Marakele (in the west) to Hanglip (in the east). There are two main areas of occurrence, separated by approximately 100 km. The altitude range is narrow: 1400–1500 m above sea level, on sandstone hills and rocky ridges.
The habitat is open grassland and savanna on rocky slopes and ridges, among low shrubs, on sandstone-derived soils. The Waterberg is a distinctive geological and ecological unit: a massif of ancient sandstone and quartzite, heavily weathered into dramatic cliffs, plateaux, and valleys, supporting a mosaic of grassland, bushveld, and gallery forest. The sandstone ridges where the cycad grows are fully exposed to sun and wind, with thin, well-drained, acidic to neutral soils.
The climate is continental and extreme by South African standards: hot summers (30–35 °C) and very cold winters, with regular frost at 1400–1500 m. Annual rainfall is 600–750 mm, falling predominantly in summer (October–March), with a dry, cold winter (May–August). This is one of the harshest climates inhabited by any Encephalartos species — colder, drier, and more seasonal than the habitats of most blue-leaved congeners.
The Waterberg — a cycad’s mountain fortress, breached
The Waterberg has been a biodiversity refuge for millennia. Its sandstone cliffs and plateaux — rising 500–800 m above the surrounding bushveld — create a mosaic of microclimates that support species found nowhere else. The isolation and ruggedness of the terrain protected Encephalartos eugene-maraisii from human interference for most of its evolutionary history. Eugène Marais found it in a landscape that was still, in the early 1900s, essentially wilderness.
That protection has failed. The species’ dramatic blue foliage, impressive size, and relative accessibility (compared to the truly remote central African species) have made it a prime target for cycad collectors. The story of its decline is told in numbers:
An aerial survey in 2004 located 875 mature plants across the species’ range.
By 2008–2011, a survey comparison revealed that 217 plants had been removed from a single reserve. Another report estimated that as many as 1000 stems had been poached from this reserve after the 2008 survey.
The most recent estimate (2020, SANBI Red List) places the surviving wild population at 400–620 mature individuals — a decline of more than 50% in approximately 30 years.
The IUCN assessment notes that there is no evidence of any recruitment into the population — meaning that no seedlings are replacing the adults being removed. The combination of adult poaching and zero recruitment creates a population in terminal decline: the remaining individuals are ageing without replacement, and each plant removed accelerates the species’ approach to functional extinction in the wild.
Conservation status
Encephalartos eugene-maraisii is assessed as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List (Bösenberg 2022). It is listed as Endangered under South Africa’s National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA) TOPS Regulations and on CITES Appendix I.
Population: 400–620 mature individuals (2020 estimate), down from 875 (2004) — a decline exceeding 50% in less than 20 years.
Area of occupancy: Approximately 50 km².
Threats: Over-collection for the ornamental trade is the overwhelming threat. The species’ large size, striking blue foliage, and frost hardiness make it exceptionally desirable to collectors and landscapers. Habitat degradation from agriculture and mining in the Waterberg landscape compounds the problem by fragmenting and isolating subpopulations. The low population size and fragmentation increase susceptibility to stochastic events and limit natural recovery.
Protection: Plants are protected within Marakele National Park, Entabeni Private Game Reserve, and the Sterkrivier Training Area of the South African National Defence Force. A Biodiversity Management Plan for Cycads (BMP-S) mandates TOPS permits for any conservation-related activities. Poaching has reportedly declined in recent years, but the damage already inflicted on the population may have pushed it past a viability threshold.
Cold hardiness
The Waterberg habitat at 1400–1500 m experiences regular winter frost — one of the coldest environments inhabited by any Encephalartos species. PlantZAfrica describes the species as “very frost resistant.” LLIFLE notes it “may tolerate frost especially if dry.”
Practical cold hardiness estimate: USDA Zone 8b–9a (−7 to −12 °C) for established plants in dry conditions. This is one of the most frost-tolerant Encephalartos species — comparable to Encephalartos cycadifolius and Encephalartos ghellinckii, and substantially hardier than the coastal and tropical species. In Mediterranean climates (Côte d’Azur, coastal California, southern Australia), year-round outdoor cultivation is entirely feasible in a sunny, well-drained position. In cooler temperate climates with moderate winters (southern England, Pacific Northwest, northern Italy), outdoor cultivation with winter protection for young plants is realistic. The species is an excellent candidate for gardens that experience occasional frost but not prolonged deep freezing.
Cultivation guide
Difficulty: 2/5. An adaptable, robust species that responds well to cultivation. PlantZAfrica describes it as doing well in full sun and being easily propagated from seeds and suckers. Its frost hardiness, tolerance of poor soils, and attractive blue foliage make it one of the finest Encephalartos for garden use in temperate to subtropical climates.
Light: Full sun. The sandstone ridge habitat is fully exposed. In cultivation, full sun promotes compact growth, strong blue colouration, and the characteristic silvery flush of new leaves. Partial shade is tolerated but produces greener, less compact foliage.
Soil: Well-drained, sandy or loamy, acidic to neutral. The sandstone-derived soils of the Waterberg are the model: thin, mineral, well-drained, and relatively low in organic matter. In cultivation, a free-draining mix of coarse sand, loam, and pumice works well. Avoid heavy, moisture-retentive substrates.
Watering: Regular during the growing season (spring to autumn), reduced during winter. The 600–750 mm summer rainfall regime of the Waterberg provides the model: generous moisture during warm months, near-dryness during the cold, frosty winter. Overwatering in winter is the main cultural risk.
Feeding: Balanced NPK with trace elements during the growing season. The species is naturally adapted to nutrient-poor sandstone soils and does not require heavy fertilisation, but responds well to moderate feeding.
Growth rate: Slow. PlantZAfrica and LLIFLE both describe the species as a relatively slow grower. Coning may take 15–20 years from seed. The slow growth rate is consistent with the harsh, resource-limited habitat.
Container culture: Feasible for young plants, but the eventual size (trunk to 4 m) makes long-term container culture impractical except in very large containers. Seedlings develop long taproots and should be grown in deep, narrow containers. The species’ frost hardiness means that in many climates, outdoor planting is preferable to container culture once the plant is 3–5 years old.
Landscape use: Outstanding. The silvery-blue foliage, architectural form, multi-stemmed habit, and frost hardiness make Encephalartos eugene-maraisii one of the finest landscape cycads for temperate and cool subtropical gardens. It is suited to rockeries, dry gardens, Mediterranean-style plantings, and as a specimen or focal-point plant. The reddish-brown cones provide an attractive contrast to the blue foliage.
Comparison with related northern blue-leaved species
| Character | E. eugene-maraisii | E. middelburgensis | E. dolomiticus | E. dyerianus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distribution | Waterberg (Limpopo) | Middelburg (Mpumalanga) | Wolkberg (Limpopo) | Limpopo escarpment |
| Altitude | 1400–1500 m | 1400–1600 m | 1200–1500 m | 700–1200 m |
| Trunk | Erect → procumbent, 2.5–4 m × 30–45 cm | Erect, 1.5–3 m × 25–35 cm | Subterranean to 30 cm | Erect, 1–3 m × 25–35 cm |
| Leaf colour | Light bluish-green, silvery-blue flush | Powdery blue with persistent bloom | Blue-green to grey-green | Silvery blue-green |
| Leaf length | 0.7–1.5 m | 0.8–1.5 m | 0.6–1.0 m | 0.8–1.2 m |
| Leaflet teeth | Entire or 1 tooth lower margin (diagnostic) | Entire margins | 1–3 teeth per margin | 1–3 teeth per margin |
| Leaf tip | Slightly upcurved (diagnostic) | Slightly upcurved | Straight to slightly curved | Recurved |
| Cone colour | Reddish-brown (tomentose) | Reddish-brown (fine brown hairs) | Greenish-yellow | Greenish, hairy |
| Pollinator beetle | Apinotropis verdoornae (species-specific) | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented |
| Frost hardiness | Zone 8b–9a (very frost-hardy) | Zone 9a (frost-hardy) | Zone 9a–9b | Zone 9b–10a |
| IUCN status | EN (400–620 plants, >50% decline) | CR | CR | CR |
| Key diagnostic | Entire leaflet margins; upcurved leaf tip; tomentose cones | Persistent powdery bloom; long straight leaves | Dwarf, acaulescent | Silvery flush; recurved leaves |
Propagation
Seed: The species is described as easily propagated from seed. Seeds should be cleaned of all sarcotesta (gloves — toxic; Marais himself documented that roasted seeds caused illness in children), soaked for several days with daily water changes, and stored in a paper bag at 10–15 °C for six months to allow the embryo to develop fully. Germinate on washed sand at approximately 28 °C. Viable seeds sink in water; non-viable seeds float. Seedlings develop long taproots and should be planted in deep, narrow containers. Initial growth is slow — shade for the first few years, with decreasing watering frequency as the taproot develops.
Offsets: The species branches readily from the base and produces suckers that can be separated with a clean, sharp tool. Treat the wound with fungicide and dry for approximately one week before planting in sterile medium.
Eugène Marais and the soul of the cycad
It is fitting that this cycad bears the name of Eugène Marais — a man who spent his life observing the natural world with the patience and intensity that cycads themselves seem to embody. Marais was not a professional botanist but a writer, lawyer, journalist, and morphine addict whose periods of retreat into the wilderness produced some of the most original natural history writing in the Afrikaans language. His observations of baboon troops and termite colonies — The Soul of the Ape, Die Siel van die Mier — were decades ahead of their time, anticipating the work of later ethologists like Jane Goodall and E.O. Wilson.
The cycad he found in the Waterberg is, in a sense, the plant equivalent of his subjects: an ancient organism, deeply embedded in its landscape, surviving through persistence rather than speed, and now — like the baboons and termites whose social lives he documented — threatened by the accelerating transformation of the world around it. With 400–620 individuals left in the wild, Encephalartos eugene-maraisii stands as a monument not only to the naturalist who discovered it but to the fragility of the natural heritage he spent his life trying to understand.
Authority websites
POWO — Plants of the World Online: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:297052-1
IUCN Red List: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41904/50906421
World List of Cycads: https://cycadlist.org
Bibliography
Verdoorn, I.C. (1945). Encephalartos eugene-maraisii. [Original description]
Palmer, E. & Pitman, N. (1972). Trees of Southern Africa. Balkema, Cape Town. [Detailed description and discovery narrative]
Osborne, R. (1989). Focus on Encephalartos eugene-maraisii. Encephalartos 17: 3–13.
Grobbelaar, N. (2002). Cycads — with Special Reference to the Southern African Species. Privately published, Pretoria.
Whitelock, L.M. (2002). The Cycads. Timber Press, Portland. 374 pp.
Donaldson, J.S. (ed.) (2003). Cycads: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group, IUCN, Gland.
Government Gazette (2016). Biodiversity Management Plan for 11 Critically Endangered and 4 Endangered Encephalartos species. Government Gazette 40793.
Bösenberg, J.D. (2022). Encephalartos eugene-maraisii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T41904A50906421.
Haynes, J.L. (2022). Etymological compendium of cycad names. Phytotaxa 550(1): 1–31.