Macrozamia riedlei

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Macrozamia riedlei
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
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 (common name Zamia or Zamia Palm) is a species of plant in the Zamiaceae family. It is endemic to Western Australia. Found on lateritic soils and in Jarrah forests. The nuts from palm the have been successfully utilised as food by Indigenous Australians - however eaten raw by european explorers incurred poisoning:-

Reported cases of poisoning from the Zamia palm are perhaps the earliest for any local plant. Zamia is mentioned as cuasing 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.)

[edit] References

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

[edit] External links

• Hill, K.D. 2003. Macrozamia riedlei. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 22 August 2007.