Zamia
Zamia is a genus of cycad of the family Zamiaceae, native to North America from the United States (in Georgia and Florida) throughout the West Indies, Central America, and South America as far south as Bolivia. The genus is considered to be the most ecologically and morphologically diverse of the cycads, and is estimated to have originated about 68.3 million years ago. Description The genus comprises deciduous shrubs with aerial or subterranean circular stems, often superficially resembling palms. 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 petioles often have prickles. The emerging leaves of many Zamia species are striking, some emerging with a reddish or bronze cast (Z. roeslii being an example). Zamia picta is even more distinctive, being the only truly variegated cycad (having whitish/yellow speckles on the leaves). Reproduction Zamia sporophylls 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 cotyledons that are usually united at the tips and a very long, spirally twisted suspensor. The sperm of members from the genus are large, as is typical of cycads, and Z. roezlii is an example; its sperm are approximately 0.4 mm long and can be seen by the unaided eye. Preferred habitat 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. Ecology At least one species, Z. pseudoparasitica, grows as an epiphyte in the branches of trees. Species Accepted species: }} Zamia acuminata Oerst.ex Dyer - Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama Zamia amazonum D.W.Stev. - Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil Zamia amplifolia Hort.Bull ex Mast. - Colombia Zamia angustifolia Jacq. - The Bahamas, Cuba Zamia boliviana (Brongn.) A.DC. - Bolivia, Brazil (Mato Grosso) Zamia bussellii Schutzman et al. Zamia chigua Seem. - Colombia Zamia cremnophila Vovides, Schutzman & Dehgan - Tabasco, Mexico Zamia cunaria Dressler & D.W.Stev. - Panama Zamia decumbens Calonje, Meerman, M.P. Griff. & Hoese - Belize Zamia disodon D.W.Stev. & Sabato - Colombia Zamia dressleri D.W.Stev. - Panama Zamia elegantissima Schutzman, Vovides & R.S.Adams - Panama Zamia encephalartoides D.W. Stev. - Colombia Zamia erosa O.F.Cook & G.N.Collins - Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico Zamia fairchildiana L.D.Gómez - Panama, Costa Rica Zamia fischeri Miq. ex Lem. - Mexico (San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Tamaulipas) Zamia furfuracea L.f. -