Macrozamia riedlei

Macrozamia riedlei
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Cycadophyta
Class: Cycadopsida
Order: Cycadales
Family: Zamiaceae
Genus: Macrozamia
Species: M. riedlei
Binomial name
Macrozamia riedlei
(Gaudich.) C.A.Gardner

Macrozamia riedlei, commonly known as zamia or zamia palm, is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. Found on lateritic soils and in Jarrah forests, it is endemic to Western Australia. The nuts from this plant have been successfully used as food by Indigenous Australians - however eaten raw by European explorers incurred poisoning:-

Reported cases of poisoning from this cycad are perhaps the earliest for any local plant. Macrozamia riedlei is mentioned as causing sickness in men eating the seeds by Vlaming in 1697, La Perouse in 1788, Flinders in 1801, and Sir George Grey in 1839. (Gardner and Bennetts p.5.)
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References

Gardner, C.A. and Bennetts, H.W. (1956) The Toxic Plants of Western Australia Perth, West Australian Newspapers.

External links


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