The stalked, feathered, fern-like leaves are between 25 centimeters and two meters long, with the petiole comprising one third to one half of the overall length (in both varieties).

Young leaves are dotted with short, gray hairs (trichomes), which usually fall off quickly and only stick to the petiole.

[3] The forest form, growing in regions with higher rainfall, is characterized by large, wide leaves that can reach up to 2 m in length.

The grassland form, growing in regions subject to annual fire and drought, has shorter leaves with a thicker cuticle that may only be 30 cm long.

These are specialized, plagiotropic (sideways-growing) roots housing colonies of cyanobacteria Bacillus radicola and Azotobacter sp.

The tuber is rich in carbohydrates and contains an exceptionally high concentration of sodium sulfate, which explains the breaking-irritant effect.

The micropyle exudes a drop of liquid that pulls the pollen capillary to the embryo sack when it dries.

They consist of a hard, dark red part, which is surrounded by a fleshy, purple seed coat, which later turns brown.

This species of cycad is adaptable and is found in many habitats, from grassland to closed forest, whether in full sunshine or shade.

IUCN Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable, mainly due to habitat loss and over-exploiting for traditional medicine.

It is listed under CITES Appendix I / EU Annex A, which prohibits international trade in specimens of this species except when the purpose of the import is not commercial, for instance for scientific research.

The pest has now been introduced to Florida, Hawaii, Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands, where it causes significant damage to cycads.

If the species is introduced to South Africa, it could drastically reduce or even destroy the Stangeria population in a short amount of time.

Stangeria eriopus is also a carrier of the fungus Guignardia mangiferae, which causes great damage to citrus fruit, but remains on the plant without symptoms.

[6] When Gustav Kunze discovered the first plants, he incorrectly designated them as ferns probably due to the primitive nerves, under the name Lomaria coriacea.

[5] However, molecular phylogenetic studies show that Stangeria is more closely related to the genus Ceratozamia or to Zamia and Microcycas than to Bowenia, implying that the Stangeriaceae are not a monophyletic group.

[8][9][10] In South African traditional medicine, the thickened subterranean tuber stem serves both for the production of various magical tinctures and as an emetic.