Edible portion : Stem-starch
A small cycad. It has branched underground stems. Each stem is about 6 cm across. The young leaves are covered with short rusty hairs. The mature leaves are 0.6-1.5 m long. There are 4-10 leaves in each crown. They are dark green and stiff. The leaf stalk is 20-80 cm long. It does not have prickles. There are about 20-80 leaflets on each leaf. They are 8-30 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. They are oblong with parallel veins. They are dark green, stiff and leathery. The male cones are 6-10 cm long by 1 -2.5 cm wide. They are red or brown. They have short hairs. The female cones are 8-12 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They are oval and with a tail. They are reddish-brown. They have short hairs. The seeds are 1.5-2 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are oval and orange to red. They grow naturally in grassland and in dunes. It is hardy and adaptable and will grow in a range of situations and soils. It best suits temperate and subtropical climates. It is often on limestone or sandy soils.
Common names : Coontie, Sago cycad,
Synonyms :
See Zamia pumila; and Zamia floridiana;