[4] It is commonly known as the breadtree, broodboom, Eastern Cape giant cycad or uJobane (Zulu).

[5] This species is widespread in the Eastern Cape and south-western KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa.

It favours sites near the coast including open scrub, steep rocky slopes, evergreen forests in valleys[7] and river banks.

[1] The individual growing in the Palm House at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK is considered to be the oldest potted plant in the world, having arrived there in 1775.

[8] Other individuals have also reached a great age, with the one in Lednice Greenhouse, Czech Republic estimated to be 300 to 600 years old.