It does not do to throw these away when they appear to be dead. The writer has known Encephalartos from South Africa remain without showing any signs of life for several years. Similar instances are on record. In the Deutsche Garten Zeitung, Dr. Wittmack gives an instance of the longevity inherent in trunks of the genus Cycas. He says :

"In the nursery establishment of Mr. J. C. Schmidt, at Erfurt, Germany, there have existed, for the last eight years, two trunks of Cycas media, having a height of 13 and 16 feet respectively. These two trunks, forming a portion of a large cargo brought from Queensland, were, on their arrival in 1878, considered to be quite dead; but, for the sake of curiosity, they were, nevertheless, planted in the ground. Imagine the astonishment of everybody concerned, at finding that these 'mummies' had suddenly returned to life, their crowns ornamented with wreaths of thick foliage, which is now completely grown, and affords a most imposing sight!"