Everything about Zamia totally explained
Zamia is a genus of
cycad of the family Zamiaceae, containing around 50 species, native to
North,
Central and
South America. Species occur as far north as
Georgia in the
United States (
Z. integrifola; the only cycad native to the United States) to as far south as
Bolivia (
Z. boliviana).
The genus comprises
deciduous shrubs with aerial or subterranean circular stems, often superficially resembling
palms. They produce spirally arranged, pinnate
leaves which are pubescent, at least when young, having branched and simple, transparent and coloured hairs. The articulated leaflets lack a midrib, and are broad with subparallel dichotomous venation. Lower leaflets are not reduced to spines, though the
petioles often have prickles. The emerging leaves of many
Zamia species are striking, some emerging with a reddish or bronze cast (
Z. roesli is an example).
Zamia picta is even more distinctive, being the only truly variegated cycad (having whitish/yellow speckles on the leaves).
Zamia sporophylls are born in vertical rows in
cones, and the megasporophyll apices are faceted or flattened, not spinose. The fleshy seeds are subglobular to oblong or ellipsoidal, and are red, orange, yellow or rarely white. The endosperm is
haploid, derived from the female
gametophyte. The embryo is straight, with two
cotyledons that are usually united at the tips and a very long, spirally twisted suspensor.
The sperm of the genus are large, as is typical of cycads, and
Zamia roezlii is an example; its sperm are approximately 0.4 mm long and can be seen by the unaided eye
(External Link
).
All the species of
Zamia produce leafy crowns of foliage that make them choice garden specimens and most varieties branch heavily in age to produce handsome clumps. With a few exceptions, most
Zamia species are found in warm, humid, tropical rainforest habitats, growing in the forest understory. However, many species are still fairly adaptable, performing quite well in cultivation, especially in subtropical areas. All species need good drainage and protection from the cold.
At least one species,
Z. pseudoparasitica, grows as an
epiphyte in the branches of trees.
The name
Zamia comes from the
Greek azaniae, meaning "a pine cone".
Species (incomplete list)
Further Information
Get more info on 'Zamia'.
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