Using cones to identify the indigenous Cycads of South Africa

Cornia Hugo was born in Naboomspruit in 1967. She obtained her National Diploma in Nature Conservation at the erstwhile Pretoria Technikon in 1987. She is currently employed as Assistant Director of General Investigations North at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Cornia has also assisted with investigations of the illegal trade in indigenous cycads and has represented the Department in several successful court cases. Her passion for cycads led to the publication of her first book “Identification of indigenous cycads of South Africa”. The book became hugely popular in the Cycad community and has prompted Cornia to present training courses on Cycad identification to members of the public, the South African Police Services as well as to Provincial and National Nature Conservation officials. In working with cycad enthusiasts it became clear that the additional use of cones to identify cycads assisted with improving the correct identification.