Zamiaceae FAMILY Endangered

Macrozamia spiralis

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Macrozamia spiralis is a slow-growing, evergreen, palm-like plant usually with a subterranean stem but sometimes becoming emergent, occasionally with branches, growing up to a height of around 30cm and and 8 - 20cm in diameter; this is topped by a crown of around 2 - 17, erect to spreading large leaves each around 60 - 100cm long[ 1935 Title The Cycads Publication Author Whitelock L.M. Publisher Timber Press; Portland, Oregon Year 2002 ISBN 0-88192-522-5 Description An excellent book dealing with the eleven different genera and almost 300 species of plants we know as Cycads. There are detailed descriptions and a host of other information for each species. ] The plant was commonly harvested from the wild as a food source by native Aborigines in Australia, though it is little used at present because of the potential for poisoning. The plant yields a high quantity of starch and has been considered as a biofuel[ 1934 Title Economic Botany of the Cycads Publication Econ Bot 12, 3-41 (1958) Author Thieret J.W. Website https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02863122 Publisher Year 1958 ISBN Description , it is also sometimes grown as an ornamental. Macrozamia spiralis has suffered an estimated population decline greater than 50% over three generations.The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2010)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeAustralia - eastern New South Wales

HabitatScattered in sclerophyll forests on sandy or gravelly soils of low fertility[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. An understory plant of dry to semiwet open sclerophyll forest, usually in flat areas, on poor, sandy or gravelly soils[ 1935 Title The Cycads Publication Author Whitelock L.M. Publisher Timber Press; Portland, Oregon Year 2002 ISBN 0-88192-522-5 Description An excellent book dealing with the eleven different genera and almost 300 species of plants we know as Cycads. There are detailed descriptions and a host of other information for each species. ].