Encephalartos poggei is a species of cycad in the family Zamiaceae. It is referred to by the common name Kananga cycad. It is native to Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zaire.
This cycad has an upright stem, reaching up to 2 meters tall and 20âÂÂ30 centimeters in diameter. Its pinnate leaves, measuring 70âÂÂ150 centimeters long, form a crown at the top of the stem. Each leaf is supported by a 7-20 centimeter long petiole, lacks thorns, and is covered in a greyish tomentum. The leaves are composed of 18-60 pairs of lanceolate, leathery leaflets, averaging 8-15 centimeters long, and have a glaucous green color.
This species is dioecious, with male specimens bearing 1-3 cones that are sub-cylindrical, 16âÂÂ20 centimeters long, and 3âÂÂ7 centimeters wide. These cones are greenish to orange-yellow. Female specimens have 1-3 ovoid cones, 17âÂÂ23 centimeters long and 9-12 centimeters in diameter, initially green and turning yellow when ripe.
The seeds are roughly ovoid, measuring 20âÂÂ33 millimeters long, and are covered with a red-brownish sarcotesta.
It occurs in: