Burrawang, Cycads
Macrozamia spp.

Family: Cycadaceae

What it is like

Macrozamia spp. is an evergreen Perennial growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry moist or wet soil.

Height (m): 2

Where it is found

Wet to dry sclerophyll forests, in coastal areas they grow in sandy soils and in nearby coastal ranges they grow in gravelly loams.

Origin: Australia. All of which are endemic to Australia.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia. Southeast Queensland and New South Wales, Northern Territory, Southwest region of Australia.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Parts of the plant are used for food and material but are toxic if untreated. The raw seed is toxic and requires treatment prior to eating it. With Macrozamia communis (Burrawang) the sea kernals can be eaten after processing. Aged seeds have a distinctive flavor reminiscent of mild cheese - ground into flower for cakes. Leached kernals eaten raw, wrapped in paperbark and baked, or made into bread . Macrozamia denisonii (Burrawang) stems are asource of edible starch . Macrozamia miquelii - Seed - cooked. The raw seed is toxic and needs to be treated to make it edible. The Australian Aborigines would do this by several methods - one involved cooking the seed in ashes, another involved soaking the seeds in water for several days, then pounding them.The seeds were made fit to eat by a laborious process of cracking, soaking, grinding and baking. Old, shrivelled seeds are said to be edible raw.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Stem: this often intergrades into leaves.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

Carbon Farming Solutions - Industrial Crop: starch (Crops grown for non-food uses. Industrial crops provide resources in three main categories: materials, chemicals, and energy. Traditional materials include lumber and thatch, paper and cardboard, and textiles). Genera to investigate include: Cycas, Dioon, Encephalartos, Macrozamia, Microcycas, and Zamia. Nearly all cycads fix low amounts of nitrogen. Ornamental - Landscape Uses: Border, Container, Massing, Seashore, Specimen.

Hypothetical Crop: These are perennial plants that could potentially be developed for cultivation. Some, such as cycads (for industrial starch), as simply neglected; others, such as buckwheat and soybeans, are annual crops that could potentially be perennialised by crossing and relatives.

Industrial Crop: Starch: Materials and chemicals include bioplastics, paper, cardboard, solvents, paints, glues etc. Plants are usually pods, starchy fruits, nuts & seeds, starchy trunks.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Hypothetical Crop: These are perennial plants that could potentially be developed for cultivation. Some, such as cycads (for industrial starch), as simply neglected; others, such as buckwheat and soybeans, are annual crops that could potentially be perennialised by crossing and relatives.

Industrial Crop: Starch: Materials and chemicals include bioplastics, paper, cardboard, solvents, paints, glues etc. Plants are usually pods, starchy fruits, nuts & seeds, starchy trunks.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Climate: warm temperate to tropical. Humidity: arid to humid. Dioecious palmlike shrubs. Several species were important food sources for Australian Aborigines, after extensive processing to remove toxins. The more abundant species have also been recorded as livestock poisons. Most species have at some time gone under the common name of Burrawang. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: hypothetical. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation).

Propagating it: Seed - it is easy to germinate from fresh seed, though it might take 2 years to do so.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

The raw seed is toxic and requires treatment prior to eating it.

Its other names

Local names

Burrawang, Macrozamia species, Macrozamia SPP, Burrawang species.

Synonyms

Many. See individual species.