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Macrozamia miquelii
(F.Muell.) A.DC.
Miquel's Cycad
Zamiaceae
Macrozamia miquelii is a species of cycad in the family Zamiaceae. It is native to the states of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia.
Description
Macrozamia miquelii is a short cycad, usually about 0.5 to 1 m tall, with about 30 to 80 leaves. Leaves are glossy dark green, pinnate, 0.8 to 2.1 m long and 25 to 50 cm wide on adult plants, on a stalk that is flattened, 12 to 60 cm long. They have 35 to 80 pairs of leaflets, 17 to 40 cm long and about 6 to 11 mm wide, reduced to spines near the base of the leaf. Leaflets are flat, thin and flexible, pointed forwards and more clustered near the tip, and have smooth, flat edges. Male (pollen) cones are solitary or in clusters of several cones, cylindrical, 15 to 35 cm tall and 4 to 6.5 cm wide. Its stalk is long, 20 to 30 cm long, with spiny cataphylls at the base. Sporophylls (cone “scales”) have faces that are 28 mm high and 10 to 18 mm wide, with a spine that is up to 2.5 cm long, angled upwards, largest near the tip of the cone. Seeds are borne on separate plants. Female cones hold seeds, and are solitary or rarely in pairs. They are ovoid cylindrical, about 20 to 40 cm long, 7 to 13 cm wide, on a 20 to 45 cm long stalk. Sporophyll faces are 1.5 to 3 cm long, 2.5 to 6 cm wide. Each sporophyll is tipped with a flat spine that is 5 to 10 cm wide at the base, and 2 to 3.5 cm at its longest, near the tip of the cone. Seeds are 2.3 to 3.5 cm long, 1.8 to 2.5 cm wide, with many longitudinal ridges, and an outer layer (sarcotesta) that is bright red when ripe (Whitelock 2003).
The species is most similar to Macrozamia communis, but that species has darker and duller green leaflets that are broader and less flexible than this species (Whitelock 2003).
Like other cycads, Macrozamia miquelii has seeds that are brightly colored, as if for attracting animals for seed dispersals, yet are toxic. Despite the belief that these seed-dispersing animals have long been extinct, cycads like these may benefit from being in densely populated groves, as opposed to being dispersed far away (Hall and Walter 2013).
The species is most similar to Macrozamia communis, but that species has darker and duller green leaflets that are broader and less flexible than this species (Whitelock 2003).
Like other cycads, Macrozamia miquelii has seeds that are brightly colored, as if for attracting animals for seed dispersals, yet are toxic. Despite the belief that these seed-dispersing animals have long been extinct, cycads like these may benefit from being in densely populated groves, as opposed to being dispersed far away (Hall and Walter 2013).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Distribution
Macrozamia miquelii is found in rainforests or sclerophyll forests with stony or sandy soils, at altitudes of up to 500 m. It is native to Australia, from Rockhampton, Queensland to between Richmond and Clarence Rivers in New South Wales (Whitelock 2003).
Status
Macrozamia miquelii is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Least Concern", because there is a large enough population with low levels of habitat destruction. It is listed in Appendix II of CITES, an international treaty regulating the trade of endangered species (Hill 2010).
References
Hall, J. A., and Walter, G. H. 2013. Seed Dispersal of the Australian Cycad Macrozamia miquelii (Zamiaceae): Are Cycads Megafauna-Dispersed ‘Grove Forming’ Plants? American Journal of Botany 100(6): 1127–1136.
Hill, K. D. 2010. Macrozamia miquelii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T42012A10622860.en.
Whitelock, L. M. 2003. The Cycads. Portland: Timber Press.
Hill, K. D. 2010. Macrozamia miquelii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T42012A10622860.en.
Whitelock, L. M. 2003. The Cycads. Portland: Timber Press.
Description
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