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Macrozamia riedlei
(Gaudich.) C.A.Gardner
Zamia-palm
Zamiaceae
Macrozamia riedlei is a species of cycad in the family Zamiaceae. It is native to coastal areas of Western Australia, Australia.
Description
Macrozamia riedlei is a short cycad, with stems up to 25 cm tall and 10 to 30 leaves. Leaves are glossy, bright to dark green, pinnate, 1.2 to 2.2 m long and 20 to 30 cm wide for adult plants, on a stalk that is 18 to 50 cm long, with a central ridge above. They have 46 to 75 pairs of leaflets, 23 to 48 cm long and about 8 to 10 mm wide, reduced to spines near the base of the leaf. Leaflets are linear lanceolate, pointed forwards and more clustered near the tip, and have smooth edges and sharply pointed tips. Male (pollen) cones are in clusters of two to five (sometimes up to seven), cylindrical, 29 to 41 cm tall and 11 to 15 cm wide. Its stalk is long, 10 to 18 cm long. Sporophylls (cone “scales”) are 32 to 50 mm long, and have faces that are 25 to 33 mm wide, with a triangular spine that is up to 7.5 cm long, angled upwards, largest near the tip of the cone and nearly absent near the base of the cone. Seeds are borne on separate plants. Female cones hold seeds, and are solitary or rarely in clusters of two or three. They are ovoid, about 25 to 35 cm long, 14 to 18 cm wide, on a 10 to 15 cm long stalk. Sporophyll faces are 2.3 to 3.5 cm long, 6 to 7 cm wide, glaucous. Each sporophyll has a flat, erect spine that is 1 to 5 cm, longest near the tip of the cone. Seeds are irregularly ovoid, 4.5 to 5 cm long, 2.5 to 3.5 cm wide, with indistinct longitudinal ridges (Whitelock 2003).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Distribution
Macrozamia riedlei is found in woodlands, sclerophyll forests, or scrub, generally growing in sandy soils or rocky laterite. It is native to the coastal area of Western Australia, from Dwellingup to Albany (Whitelock 2003).
Status
Macrozamia riedlei is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Least Concern", because it is a widespread species and suffers from only minor levels of habitat destruction. It is listed in Appendix II of CITES, an international treaty regulating the trade of endangered species (Bösenberg 2010).
References
Bösenberg, J. D. 2010. Macrozamia riedlei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T42019A10626648.en
Whitelock, L. M. 2003. The Cycads. Portland: Timber Press.
Whitelock, L. M. 2003. The Cycads. Portland: Timber Press.
Description
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