The data belongs to "Encephalartos phylogeny, biogeography and taxonomic evolution". Encephalartos, an African endemic genus within the Zamiaceae, comprises 65 extant species whose phylogenetic relationships have remained unresolved due to limited genetic differentiation observed in previous studies. This research reconstructs the evolutionary history of Encephalartos utilizing 3,545 single-copy nuclear genes derived from transcriptomes of 64 species. The study estimates divergence times and reconstructs ancestral states for key morphological traits. The data belongs to "Encephalartos phylogeny, biogeography and taxonomic evolution". Encephalartos, an African endemic genus within the Zamiaceae, comprises 65 extant species whose phylogenetic relationships have remained unresolved due to limited genetic differentiation observed in previous studies. This research reconstructs the evolutionary history of Encephalartos utilizing 3,545 single-copy nuclear genes derived from transcriptomes of 64 species. The study estimates divergence times and reconstructs ancestral states for key morphological traits.