Species profile—Macrozamia viridis

Classification

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

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

Go to Photo gallery

Species details

Kingdom: Plantae (plants)
Class: Equisetopsida (land plants)
Family: Zamiaceae
Scientific name: Macrozamia viridis D.L.Jones & P.I.Forst.
WildNet taxon ID: 6482
Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA) status: Endangered
Conservation significant: Yes
Confidential: Yes
Endemicity: Native
Pest status: Nil
Short Notes: Gymnosperm, one sheet and carpological
Description: Macrozamia viridis is a cycad with an branched underground trunk 10-20cm in diameter, forming a clump of up to 6 crowns. Each crown consists of 1-5 spreading leaves, each 35-60cm long, dark green and glossy. The leaf stalk (petiole) is 9-21cm long, and woolly at base. The 80-160 leaflets are arranged along a spirally twisted (1-3 times) rhachis (central stalk). The leaflets are 7-20cm long and 5-11mm wide, dark green and shiny above and paler beneath, the callous base is yellowish-white to reddish-orange.
The male cones are cylindrical, 9-18cm long and 3.5-5cm in diameter. The female cones are ovoid (egg-shaped), 8-14cm long and 5.5-7cm in diameter. The oblong-ovoid (egg-shaped) seeds are 17-23mm long, 20-24mm wide and orange to red when ripe.
Macrozamia viridis is related to M. plurinervia but has shorter fronds with shiny, bright green leaflets, much smaller cones, and smaller seeds. (Jones & Forster 1994; Hill 1998)
Map: View Map
Habitat: Macrozamia viridis occurs in moderately wet eucalypt woodlands with a scrubby understorey. It grows on granitic sandy soils with granite outcrops. (Jones & Forster 1994; Hill 1998)
Behaviour: Due to their underground stem, adult Macrozamia plants are able to re-sprout after loss of the above-ground foliage from fire. Seedlings and unburied seeds are usually killed by fire.
Reproduction: The cones of Macrozamia viridis mature between October and January. The seeds ripen in March and April. (Jones & Forster 1994)
Notes: Contributors: Ailsa Holland, Mellisa Mayhew 18/06/2009
References: Herbrecs (2008). Macrozamia viridis, in BriMapper version 2.12. Queensland Herbarium. Accessed 09/10/2008.
Hill, K.D. in McCarthy, P.M. (Ed) (1998). Flora of Australia 48: 652.
Jones, D.L. & Forster, P.I. (1994). Seven new species of Macrozamia section Parazamia (Miq.) Miq. (Zamiaceae section Parazamia) from Queensland. Austrobaileya 4(2): 281-283.
Profile author: Ailsa Holland (18/06/2009)