This species was previously popularly considered to be a form of Encephalartos natalensis and was commonly known as the ‘woolly natalensis’, until it was described as a new species in 1990, by Piet J. Vorster. Encephalartos is Greek for ‘bread in head’ and refers to the floury, starchy material in the trunks of some species, which is eaten as famine food by local people. The species name aemulans comes from the Latin word meaning ‘resembling’, which refers to the similarity of the male and female cones.

Cycads are grouped into 3 families: Cycadaceae, Stangeriaceae and Zamiaceae.  Currently there are about 343 cycads recognized worldwide. Cycads are found in the tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, and North, and Central America. South Africa has 38 species of cycads, all in the genus Encephalartos of the family Zamiaceae, and one Stangeria.

In the absence of cones, it is difficult to distinguish this species because it can easily be confused with E. lebomboensis, E. msinganus, some forms of E. natalensis, and E. senticosus. They can be distinguished as follows:

In E. msinganus the female cones have a thin, felt-like, brown hairy outer layer that covers and somewhat obscures the cones, which are initially greenish yellow, but turn brighter yellow when mature. The male cones are hairless.

In E. lebomboensis neither the male nor the female cones are ever woolly and have a smooth surface, in comparison with the cones of E. senticosus, which have a rough outer surface. Leaflets are less than 25 mm wide.

In E. natalensis female cones initially have a dense, dark brown to reddish brown woolly coating; male cones are hairless, and leaflets broader than 25 mm, dentate, boat-shaped, with thick margins.

In E. senticosus the cones have a rough outer surface. The female cones initially have a dense dark brown woolly surface layer, which disappear almost completely when mature and the male cones are hairless. Leaflet margins tend to be slightly curved then thickened.