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Zamia furfuracea
L.f. ex Aiton
Cardboard Zamia
Zamiaceae
Zamia furfuracea is a species of cycad in the family Zamiaceae. It is endemic to a small area in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, but is widely cultivated elsewhere.
Description
Zamia furfuracea is a low-growing cycad; its stems are short, sometimes underground; the plant can grow up to 1 m wide. Leaves are long, 0.5 to 2 m long and 11 to 25 cm wide. The leafstalk is 15 to 25 cm long, 8 to 10 mm thick, flattened above, and usually spiny. Each leaf has 10 to 15 pairs of leaflets, which are thick and stiff, 16 to 199 cm long and 4 to 6 cm wide. They are obovate and oblong, toothed near the tip, smooth-edged on the sides. Male (pollen) cones are solitary and grow on a 8 to 10 cm long stalk. They are cylindrical, 7 to 12 cm tall, 18 to 25 cm wide, and densely covered with light brown hairs. Scale-like sporophylls are found in 10 to 12 vertical rows, containing 18 to 20 each. Female cones are also solitary, 16 to 24 cm long, 6.5 to 7 cm wide, densely hairy with reddish hairy. Sporophylls are 10 to 13 mm high, 15 to 18 mm wide on their faces, and are borne in 10 to 12 vertical rows with 14 to 15 each. Female cones are borne on a long stalk that is 10 to 20 cm long, 1.5 to 2 cm thick, and hairy. Seeds are red when ripe, angular, 11 to 15 mm long and 8 to 10 mm wide (Whitelock 2003).
Zamia furfuracea is distinguished from nearby Mexican Zamia species by its leaflets that are tilted and overlapping, and the brownish yellow hair that persists on those leaflets (Nicolalde-Morejón et al. 2009).
Zamia furfuracea is distinguished from nearby Mexican Zamia species by its leaflets that are tilted and overlapping, and the brownish yellow hair that persists on those leaflets (Nicolalde-Morejón et al. 2009).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Zamia furfuracea is one of the most commonly grown cycads, second only to Cycas revoluta. It grows quite rapidly for a cycad, is salt-tolerant, and is well-adapted to the climate of areas such as Florida and even Mediterranean climates (Whitelock 2003).
Distribution
Zamia furfuracea is found naturally in a few coastal sand dunes and islands, protected by coastal scrub or sometimes in full sun, where it tends to grow more compact. The plant is native to Veracruz, Mexico (Whitelock 2003).
Status
Zamia furfuracea is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Endangered". It is endemic to the state of Veracruz, Mexico, in area of only 630 square kilometers. It has been steadily on the decline, mostly from plant collection. It is listed in Appendix II of CITES, an international treaty regulating the trade of endangered species (Chemnick and Gregory 2010).
References
Chemnick, J., and Gregory, T. 2010. Zamia furfuracea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T42152A10668734.en.
Nicolalde-Morejón, F., Vovides, A. P., Stevenson, D. W. 2009. Taxonomic revision of Zamia in Mega-Mexico. Brittonia 61: 301–335.
Whitelock, L. M. 2003. The Cycads. Portland: Timber Press.
Nicolalde-Morejón, F., Vovides, A. P., Stevenson, D. W. 2009. Taxonomic revision of Zamia in Mega-Mexico. Brittonia 61: 301–335.
Whitelock, L. M. 2003. The Cycads. Portland: Timber Press.
Description
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