368 Linnean Society. 
Miquel observes, that this species was formerly cultivated in 
European conservatories under the name of “‘ Zamia spinulosa,” or 
“Z. spinosissima.” Both he and Lehmann assign the name of ‘“ Hn- 
cephalartus pungens”’ to an entirely different species. 
Encephalartus Caffer.—This species, which in Miquel’s arrange- 
ment immediately follows H. Altensteinii, differs from it distinctly 
in the form of the leaves. Also in both species the form of the 
leaves, and more especially the obliquity with which the leaflets are 
set upon the midrib, and which increases regularly from the base 
of the leaf to its apex, may be traced to the imbricate vernation. In 
all Cycadee the vernation affords important aids for. distinguishing 
both genera and species, and these characters are the more deserving 
of attention on account of the rare occurrence of the flowers. 
The next species to Encephalartus Caffer, in Miquel’s arrange- 
ment, is H. longifolius. He however represents these two species 
as scarcely differing except in habit. ‘The plant in the great con- 
servatory at Kew, named “‘ Zamia longifolia,” seems to me undistin- 
cuishable from H#. Caffer. Specimens of the same may be seen at 
Chelsea and at Chiswick, which in those gardens are called ‘‘ Zamia 
elegans.” At Sion House there is a remarkably fine plant of this 
species, called there ‘‘ Encephalartus Caffrorum.” 
Probably no finer specimens of #. Caffer have ever been known 
than two, which are at Chatsworth. They were sent to the Duke 
of Devonshire’s collection by the late Baron Ludwig, from his own 
garden at the Cape of Good Hope, together with all the Chatsworth 
specimens of this genus, excepting that already mentioned, which 
was brought from Walton-on-Thames. ‘These two plants cannot be 
less than 100 years old. 
On a close examination of the cicatrices, which are arranged in 
spirals on their trunks, appearances present themselves which make 
it probable, that not the leaflets only, but the leaves also are articu- 
lated. Many of these cicatrices are concave, smooth within, but 
showing the marks cf bundles of vessels, which have closed after 
the separation of the petioles. Although, therefore, the longevity of 
these leaves is certainly very great, as it is in all Cycadez, yet they 
appear to have their natural term of life, perhaps ten years or more ; 
after which they are thrown off by an effort of the plant resembling 
that which in common cases takes place every year. 
One of these two specimens is a female, and having recently borne 
fruit, requires a more detailed description. 
The cone made its first appearance in the spring of 1847. In the 
following September it had attained so great a size, that it was 
thought desirable to take a cast of it in plaster, and models, made 
from this cast, are now in the museum at Kew, in the collections of 
the British Museum and of the Linnean Society, and in other col- 
lections both public and private. At the time when the cast was 
taken, the prevailing colour of the cone was a dark shining green, 
the pyramidal extremities of the rhomboids being of a lemon-yellow, 
streaked with brown. ‘hese colours were afterwards blended or 
changed, so that the surface of the cone assumed a pretty uniform 
bronze colour. 
