Zamia

Linnaeus 1762

Common names

"Generic" names, meaning they may be applied to a variety of species, include Maw'-ti-ree-na [Kubuyari] and koo [Karapaná and Tanimuka] (all are tribes of northwest Amazonia). Z. cupatiensis is called Koo-roó-chee [Yukuna] or ma-re-ká-mê [Karijona] (both are languages of range-indigenous peoples). Z. jirijirimensis is Gaw [Taiwano, language of the range-indigenous people]. Z. lindenii is palma tabaquillo [Spanish] (Schultes & Raffauf 1990). Z. furfuracea is popularly called the cardboard palm.

Taxonomic notes

Zamia is the largest genus in the family, with about 87 species. I have some information on the species linked below, but for all species, see the descriptions provided by The World List of Cycads.

Z. integrifolia Z. pseudoparasitica Z. roezlii

Description

"Stems often branched, subterranean to aboveground. Leaves broadly oblong-elliptic; leaflets entire to coarsely dentate, without midribs, venation dichotomous but appearing parallel. Cones distinctly peduncled. Pollen cones more slender than seed cones. x = 8" (Landry 1993).

Distribution and Ecology

Neotropical: USA:Florida, Puerto Rico; Mexico; Central America; South America to Bolivia (Jones 1993).

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2023.03.03.

Ethnobotany

Pharmacological studies have found glycosides of methylazoxymethanol, macrozamine and cycasine. Some species are used in Brazil as an antidote to snakebite (Schultes & Raffauf 1990).

Regarding Z. cupatiensis, the "Yukunas report that a starchy meal can be prepared from the swollen underground stem, but the Karijonas who live in La Pedrera, very near the Cerro de Cupati (the only locality known for this apparent strict endemic) report that it is toxic to eat" (Schultes & Raffauf 1990).

Regarding Z. jirijirimensis, the "Karapaná and Taiwano Indians who live near the type locality (the Raudal de Jirijirimo) often prepare a starchy meal from the underground part of this xerophytic plant that grows in relative profusion in the sandy savannah of the area. One Indian reported that the inflorescence is used medicinally in decoction to treat a skin condition known as sarna, a mange-like itch, but this use could not be verified by other informants" (Schultes & Raffauf 1990).

Observations

Remarks

First known from 3 species described in lower Eocene deposits in Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee (Jones 1993).

Derivation of the name Zamia is "equivocal, perhaps from misreading of Latin azania, a kind of pine cone, or from Latin zamia, loss, from the "sterile appearance" of the pollen cones" (Landry 1993).

Citations

See also

Duncan, W. H. 1979. Zamia (Cycadaceae) new for Georgia. Sida 8:115-116.

Eckenwalder, J. E. 1980a. Dispersal of the West Indian cycad Zamia pumila L. Biotropica 12:79-80.

Eckenwalder, J. E. 1980b. Taxonomy of the West Indian cycads. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 61:701-722.

Hardin, J. W. 1971. Studies of the southeastern United States flora. II. The gymnosperms. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Science Society 87:43-50.

Landry, G. P. 1980. The ecology and variation of Zamia pumila L. in Florida. M.S. thesis. Louisiana State University.

Landry, Garrie P. 1993. Zamiaceae. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (eds.): Flora of North America North of Mexico, Vol. 2. Oxford University Press.

Stevenson (1987).

Stevenson, D. W. 1993. The Zamiaceae in Panama with comments on phytogeography and species relationships. Brittonia 45: 1-16. ABSTRACT: A key to, and descriptions of, the eleven species of Zamia in Panama are presented. Four of these are new species: Z. cunaria, Z. dressleri, Z. ipetiensis, and Z. neurophyllidia. Floristically, Zamia is represented in Panama by three elements: three Central American species, Z. acuminata, Z. fairchildiana, and Z. skinneri, which reach their southern limits in central Panama; three northern South American species, Z. chigua, Z. manicata, and Z. obliqua, which reach their northern limits in Panama; and five endemic Panamanian species, Z. cunaria, Z. dressleri, Z. ipetiensis, Z. neurophyllidia, and Z. pseudoparasitica. These distributions are intepreted by a consideration of sister group relationships based upon derived morphological character states.

Ward, D. B., ed. N.d. Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida. Vol. 5. Plants. Gainesville. Pp. 122-124.