Species profile—Macrozamia crassifolia

Classification

Plantae (plants) → Equisetopsida (land plants) → Zamiaceae → Macrozamia crassifolia

Photo of Macrozamia crassifolia () - Forster, P.,Queensland Herbarium, DES (Licence: CC BY NC)

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Species details

Kingdom: Plantae (plants)
Class: Equisetopsida (land plants)
Family: Zamiaceae
Scientific name: Macrozamia crassifolia P.I.Forst. & D.L.Jones
WildNet taxon ID: 6479
Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA) status: Vulnerable
Conservation significant: Yes
Confidential: Yes
Endemicity: Native
Pest status: Nil
Short Notes: Gymnosperm, three sheets plus carpological
Description: Macrozamia crassifolia is a cycad with a branched underground trunk 10-20 cm diameter, producing up to five growing points in a clump. Each crown has 1-5 erect leaves 50-110cm long. The 104-172 leaflets are arranged on a spirally twisted (1-4 times) rhachis (central stalk). The leaflets are thick and dark green above, bright green beneath,15-55cm long and 2-5mm wide, with a white to greenish-white callous base.
Male and female cones are produced on separate plants. The male pollen cones are cylindrical, 10-16cm long and 3-4.5cm in diameter. The female seed cones are ovoid (egg-shaped), 11-15cm long and 6-8cm in diameter. The seeds are ovoid (egg-shaped), 19-26mm long and 18-22mm wide, red when ripe.
Macrozamia crassifolia is allied to M. pauli-guilielmi, but is distinguished by the thicker and darker green leaflets, and the prominent spines on the upper sporophylls (scales) of the male cone, and larger female cones. (Jones & Forster 1994; Hill 1998)
Map: View Map
Habitat: Macrozamia crassifolia grows on rugged slopes under open forest, at altitudes between 340-420m above sea level. It occurs in small and disjunct stands, growing in sandy or stony soils among granite rocks and boulders. (DEWHA 2008)
Behaviour: Cross-pollination between individual Macrozamia crassifolia plants is effected by a species of Tranes weevil in an obligate mutualism. (Forster et al. 1994)
Reproduction: Cones mature October to January, seeds ripen February to April. As with other Macrozamia species, once the seeds are ripe they are probably not ready to germinate for around 12 months due to the delayed fertilisation unique to cycads. The cones may not be annual when conditions are unfavourable. (Queensland Herbarium 2007)
Management documents: Conservation and management of protected plants in trade in Queensland 1995-1998. Department of Environment.
Notes: Contributors: Ailsa Holland, Mellisa Mayhew 18/06/2009
References: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (2008). Macrozamia crassifolia in Species Profile and Threats Database, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra. Accessed 08/10/2008.
Forster, P.I., Machin, P., Mound, L. & Wilson, G. (1994). Insects associated with the reproductive structures of cycads in Queensland and north-east New South Wlaes, Australia. Biotropica 26: 217-222.
Herbrecs (2008). Macrozamia crassifolia, in BriMapper version 2.12. Queensland Herbarium. Accessed 08/10/2008.
Hill, K.D. in McCarthy, P.M. (Ed) (1998). Flora of Australia 48: 653.
Jones, D.L. & Forster, P.I. (1994). Seven new species of Macrozamia section Parazamia (Miq.) Miq. (Zamiaceae section Parazamia) from Queensland. Austrobaileya 4(2): 279.
Queensland Herbarium (2007). National Multi-species Recovery Plan for the cycads, Cycas megacarpa, Cycas ophiolitica, Macrozamia cranei, Macrozamia lomandroides, Macrozamia pauli-guilielmi and Macrozamia platyrhachis. Report to Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Canberra. Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/pubs/cycads.pdf
Profile author: Ailsa Holland (18/06/2009)