Zamia palm
Cycas media, Fam. Cycadaceae
Cycad, resembling to a palm, with a solitary, unbranched trunk, 1-3m tall.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Palm or palm-like plant |
| Family: | Cycadaceae |
| Leaf: | Pinnate and leathery, 0.5-1.5m long. 40 to 50 pairs of stiff, narrow, straight or sickle shaped leaflets, 10-13 x 1-1.5cm. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
White, Cream, Green |
| Flower description: | Pale. Male cones slender and woolly, 30-45cm long. Female spikes lance shaped, sharp tip, toothed margins, about 40cm long with four to six ovules per spike. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Orange |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Orange oval, 2-4cm long. |
| Habitat: | Open forest, woodland. |
| Distribution | Queensland. |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | All parts of the plant are considered highly toxic. |
| Origin: | Australia. |
| Notes: | Tolerant of most soils but requires good drainage. It is important not to overwater, particularly in the 'dry'. Propagate from seed, best while fresh. Some species of Cycas will germinate readily while others may take 12 to 18 months. Seed should be sown in a sandy mixture and only half covered. Potting up may be done when the seed have developed roots. |
| Information sources: | James Cook University (2022) Cycas media, Plants by common name., Townsend K. & the Society for Growing Australian Plant Townsville Branch Inc. (1994) Across the Top: Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. |
