Species profile—Macrozamia parcifolia
Classification
Plantae (plants) → Equisetopsida (land plants) → Zamiaceae → Macrozamia parcifolia
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Species details
- Kingdom
- Plantae (plants)
- Class
- Equisetopsida (land plants)
- Family
- Zamiaceae
- Scientific name
- Macrozamia parcifolia P.I.Forst. & D.L.Jones
- WildNet taxon ID
- 6481
- Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA) status
- Vulnerable
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) status
- Vulnerable
- Back on Track (BoT) status
- Critical
- Conservation significant
- Yes
- Confidential
- Yes
- Endemicity
- Native
- Pest status
- Nil
- Short Notes
- Gymnosperm, two sheets plus spirit and carpological
- Description
- Macrozamia parcifolia has an unbranched underground stem that is 10-20cm in diameter, and a crown of 1-4 erect dark green leaves 65-95 cm long, and hairless, except for the wool at the base. Each leaf consists of 100-220 leaflets arranged along a spirally twisted (2-6 times) rhachis (central stalk). The very narrow leaflets measure 15-40cm long by 1-3mm wide, are dark green and dull above and bright green below, with a slightly thickened greenish-white base.
The plant reproduces by cones which are somewhat pineapple-like in appearance. Male and female cones develop on separate plants. Male cones are cylindrical, 7-14cm long and 2.5-4cm in diameter, curved with age. Female cones are ovoid (egg-shaped), 8-14cm long and 4-6cm in diameter. Seeds are ovoid (egg-shaped), 1.7-2.5cm long, 1.5-2cm in diameter and orange to red when ripe.
Macrozamia parcifolia is easily distinguished from the related M. pauli-guilielmi by the narrower, thinner-textured, darker green leflets which are attached to the rhachis at an angle of 30 degrees. (Jones & Forster 1994; Halford 1995; Hill 1998; DEWHA 2008) - Map
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- Habitat
- Macrozamia parcifolia occurs in tall open forest communities with a sparse to dense shrubby understorey, at altitudes between 120-220m above sea level. It grows on stony ridges and slopes, on well-drained, hard, red-brown clay loam soils of basaltic origin. (Halford 1995; DEWHA 2008)
- Behaviour
- Adult Macrozamia plants have an underground stem and are able to resprout after loss of the above-ground foliage from fire. Seedlings and unburied seeds are usually killed by fire. Synchronous cone formation often follows fire. (Halford 1995; Queensland Herbarium 2007)
- Reproduction
- Cones are produced from October to January and ripe seeds occur from February to April. Cones may not be produced annually when conditions are unfavourable. Cross-pollination between individual Macrozamia conferta plants is thought to be effected by a species of Tranes weevil in an obligate mutualism. (Forster et al. 1994; Halford 1995)
- Predators
- Like most other Macrozamia species, the leaves of M. parcifolia are highly toxic when eaten by domestic stock. (Halford 1995; 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 parcifolia 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.
Halford, D. (1995). Macrozamia parcifolia, in Species Management Manual. Department of Natural Resources, Brisbane.
Herbrecs (2008). Macrozamia parcifolia, 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. - Profile author
- Ailsa Holland (18/06/2009)
Other resources
Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT) The Australasian Virtual Herbarium (AVH) Atlas of Living AustraliaData source
This profile data is sourced from the QLD Wildlife Data API using the Get species by ID function used under CC-By 4.0https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species/?op=getspeciesbyid&taxonid=6481
This information is sourced from the WildNet database managed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.