Zamia
Encyclopedia
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. integrifolia
; the only cycad native to the United States) to as far south as Bolivia
(Z. boliviana
).
The genus comprises deciduous
shrub
s with aerial or subterranean circular stems, often superficially resembling palm
s. 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 petiole
s 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 sporophyll
s 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 cotyledon
s 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.
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".
Cycad
Cycads are seed plants typically characterized by a stout and woody trunk with a crown of large, hard and stiff, evergreen leaves. They usually have pinnate leaves. The individual plants are either all male or all female . Cycads vary in size from having a trunk that is only a few centimeters...
of the family Zamiaceae
Zamiaceae
The Zamiaceae are a family of cycads that are superficially palm or fern-like. They are divided into two subfamilies with eight genera and about 150 species in the tropical and warm temperate regions of Africa, Australia and North and South America....
, containing around 50 species, native to North
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Species occur as far north as Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(Z. integrifolia
Zamia integrifolia
Zamia integrifolia is a small, tough, woody cycad native to the southeast United States , the Bahamas and the Caribbean south to Grand Cayman and Puerto Rico ....
; the only cycad native to the United States) to as far south as Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
(Z. boliviana
Zamia boliviana
Zamia boliviana is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is endemic to Bolivia.-Source:* Donaldson, J.S. 2003. . Downloaded on 24 August 2007....
).
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s with aerial or subterranean circular stems, often superficially resembling palm
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
s. They produce spirally arranged, pinnate leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
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 petiole
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
s 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 sporophyll
Sporophyll
A sporophyll is a leaf that bears sporangia. Both microphylls and megaphylls can be sporophylls. In heterosporous plants, sporophylls bear either megasporangia , or microsporangia...
s are born in vertical rows in cones
Strobilus
A strobilus is a structure present on many land plant species consisting of sporangia-bearing structures densely aggregated along a stem. Strobili are often called cones, but many botanists restrict the use of the term cone to the woody seed strobili of conifers...
, 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
Gametophyte
A gametophyte is the haploid, multicellular phase of plants and algae that undergo alternation of generations, with each of its cells containing only a single set of chromosomes....
. The embryo is straight, with two cotyledon
Cotyledon
A cotyledon , is a significant part of the embryo within the seed of a plant. Upon germination, the cotyledon may become the embryonic first leaves of a seedling. The number of cotyledons present is one characteristic used by botanists to classify the flowering plants...
s 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
Zamia roezlii
Zamia roezlii is a species of cycad, a plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.Named by the Czech botanist Benedikt Roezl....
is an example; its sperm are approximately 0.4 mm long and can be seen by the unaided eye.
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
Zamia pseudoparasitica
Zamia pseudoparasitica is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is endemic to Panama. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, grows as an epiphyte
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
in the branches of trees.
The name Zamia comes from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
azaniae, meaning "a pine cone".
Selected species
|
Zamia hymenophyllidia Zamia hymenophyllidia is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is found in Colombia and Peru. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Donaldson, J.S. 2003. . Downloaded on 24 August 2007.... Zamia integrifolia Zamia integrifolia is a small, tough, woody cycad native to the southeast United States , the Bahamas and the Caribbean south to Grand Cayman and Puerto Rico .... L.f. – Florida Coontie, Florida Arrowroot (Florida Florida Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... , Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... , The Bahamas, Cayman Islands Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica... , Cuba, Puerto Rico) Zamia ipetiensis Zamia ipetiensis is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is endemic to Panama. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Donaldson, J.S. 2003. . Downloaded on 24 August 2007.... Zamia loddigesii Zamia loddigesii is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is found in Guatemala and Mexico. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Donaldson, J.S. 2003. . Downloaded on 24 August 2007.... Zamia lucayana Zamia lucayana is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is endemic to the Bahamas. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Donaldson, J.S. 2003. . Downloaded on 24 August 2007.... (The Bahamas) Zamia montana Zamia montana is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is endemic to Colombia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:... Zamia polymorpha Zamia polymorpha is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is found in Belize and Mexico. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Donaldson, J.S. 2003. . Downloaded on 24 August 2007.... Zamia portoricensis Zamia portoricensis is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is endemic to Puerto Rico.-Source:* Donaldson, J.S. 2003. . Downloaded on 24 August 2007.... Zamia pseudoparasitica Zamia pseudoparasitica is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is endemic to Panama. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:... Yates Zamia pumila Zamia pumila, or Coontie, is a small, tough, woody cycad of the West Indies and Cuba. Zamia pumila was the first species described for the genus and hence is the type species for the genus Zamia and the family Zamiaceae.... L. – Dominican Zamia (Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico) Zamia roezlii Zamia roezlii is a species of cycad, a plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.Named by the Czech botanist Benedikt Roezl.... Zamia skinneri Zamia skinneri is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is endemic to Panama. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:... Zamia vazquezii Zamia vazquezii is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is endemic to Mexico. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Donaldson, J.S. 2003. . Downloaded on 24 August 2007.... D.W.Stev., Sabato & De Luca – Dwarf Mexican Zamia (Mexico) Zamia verschaffeltii Zamia verschaffeltii is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is endemic to Mexico.-Source:* Donaldson, J.S. 2003. . Downloaded on 24 August 2007.... Zamia wallisii Zamia wallisii is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is endemic to Colombia. It is threatened by habitat loss.-History:Zamia wallisii was described in 1875 by Alexander Braun from material collected by Gustav Wallis in Colombia. The species was collected once again in 1888 by Guillermo... |
Formerly placed here
- Encephalartos cycadifolius (Jacq.) Lehm. (as Z. cycadifolia Jacq.)
- Encephalartos horridusEncephalartos horridusThe Eastern Cape Blue Cycad is a small, low-growing cycad up to 0.9m high and 0.9m wide. It is a native of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, and found in arid shrublands, most commonly on ridges and slopes with shallow soils...
(Jacq.) Lehm. (as Z. horrida Jacq.) - Encephalartos longifoliusEncephalartos longifoliusEncephalartos longifolius is a low-growing palm-like cycad in the family Zamiaceae. It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the breadpalm or broodboom. The species name comes from the Latin longis, long and folius, leaf...
(Jacq.) Lehm. (as Z. longifolia Jacq.) - Macrozamia spiralisMacrozamia spiralisMacrozamia spiralis is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is endemic to New South Wales in eastern Australia.-Source:* Hill, K.D. 2003. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(Salisb.) Miq. (as Z. spiralis Salisb.) - Microcycas calocomaMicrocycasMicrocycas is a genus of cycads in the family Zamiaceae containing only one species, Microcycas calocoma, endemic to a small area in western Cuba in Pinar del Río Province....
(Miq.) A. DC. (as Z. calocoma Miq.)