Zamia palm, Cycad
Cycas armstrongii

Family: Cycadaceae

What it is like

A palm like plant 2-4 m high. The trunk is rough and dark brown. The trunk is 10-15 cm across. Trees lose their leaves during the year. Male and female trees are separate. The leaves are up to 1 m long and made up of 100 or more leaflets. These leaflets are stiff, flat and narrow. They are 7-14 cm long by 0.5-0.7 cm wide. The stalk has thorns below the leaflets. The male cone is oval and brown. It is 12-20 cm long. It is made up of many scales arranged like a spiral. It grows at the top of the trunk. The female spike is flattened and hairy. There are usually 4 fruit. The fruit are hard and round and 2-4 cm across. They are brown when ripe. There is a single seed inside.

There are about 20-40 Cycas species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in open forest. It suits tropical regions with seasonally dry climates. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The nuts are eaten or made into flour after extensive and thorough preparation and cooking. They are roasted, cracked de-husked and pounded and then the pulp is soaked in water for 3 days.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed may take 6-18 months to germinate. It can be grown from suckers.

Its other names

Local names

Andirnku, Kwaka, Laluk, Marra, Minta, Ttuntju

Synonyms

Cycas media var. inermis;