Modjadji cycad
A tropical plant. It grows in the mountains in South Africa. It grows in forests and on hillsides. In South Africa it grows in regions with warm to hot summers and mild but frost free winters. It grows between 600-1000 m altitude. The rainfall is 500-1000 mm with a summer maximum.
Also known as:
Likobe, Modjadjibroodboom, Mtondolo, Mucovela, Mugobela
Edible Portion
- Flesh around Seeds, Caution
Where does Modjadji cycad grow?
Found in: Africa, Australia, East Africa, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa
Notes: There are 52 Encephalartos species.
Growing Modjadji cycad
Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinate easily. Plants can be grown from suckers. Suckers transplant easily.
Edible Uses: The fully ripe flesh around the seeds is eaten, especially by children. The stem is cut into slices and buried until it becomes partly fermented then it is sliced and sun dried before crushing into flour. This is eaten after boiling. CAUTION: The seed kernel is poisonous.
Production: It grows quickly. It can produce seeds 11 years after planting from seed.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Modjadji cycad Photos
References
Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 396
J. Burtt Davy, Man. pl. Transvaal 1:40, 99, fig. 4B. 1926
Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 368
Jones, D.L., 2000, Cycads of the world. Reed New Holland. p 216
Marinelli, J. (Ed), 2004, Plant. DK. p 370
Palgrave, K.C., 1996, Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers. p 54
Palmer, E and Pitman, N., 1972, Trees of Southern Africa. Vol. 1. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town p 321
Plowes, N. J. & Taylor, F. W., 1997, The Processing of Indigenous Fruits and other Wildfoods of Southern Africa. in Smartt, L. & Haq. (Eds) Domestication, Production and Utilization of New Crops. ICUC p 190
Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 108
THIERET,
van Wyk, B, van Wyk, P, and van Wyk B., 2000, Photographic guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Briza. p 130
Van Wyk, Br. and van Wyk P., 2009, Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Nature. p 58