Burrawang
Macrozamia spiralis

Family: Zamiaceae

What it is like

A medium sized cycad or palm like plant. It grows 50-90 cm high. It spreads 1.5-2.2 m across. The trunk is under the ground and is 30 cm long by 20 cm across. The young leaves are greyish-blue. The mature leaves are 0.6-1 m long by 20-40 cm wide. There are 2-12 leaves in the crown. The leaf stalk is 10-40 cm long and swollen and woolly at the base. There are 40-120 leaflets in a leaf. An average leaflet is 12-20 cm long by 0.5-1 cm wide. They are dark green and abruptly taper to a sharp point. The cones are different. Male cones are 15-20 cm long by 5-6 cm wide. They are usually curved and green. There are 1-4 on each plant. Female cones are 12-20 cm long by 6-9 cm wide. They are oval and green and there are 1-2 per plant. The seeds are 2.5-3 cm long by 2-2.5 cm wide. They are oval and orange to bright red.

There are about 25 Macrozamia species. They are endemic to Australia.

Where it is found

It grows in warm temperate and subtropical climates. They grow naturally in the central coast of New South Wales in Australia. They can tolerate frost. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Indonesia, SE Asia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Seedlings are very slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Sikas palem zamia

Synonyms

Macrozamia corallipes J.D.Hook.;