Zamia, Zamia palm, Jeeriji
Macrozamia riedlei

Family: Zamiaceae

What it is like

A medium sized cycad. It is a palm like shrub. It has a short trunk covered with leaf bases. The trunk is barrel shaped and can be underground of emerge. It is 0.5 m long by 60 cm wide. The young leaves are bright green. The mature leaves can vary in number. There are usually less than 25. The fronds are between 1-1.5 m long by 20-30 cm wide. There are 100-120 leaflets per leaf. They are dull green above and paler underneath. Plants are separately male and female. Male cones are 20-35 cm long by 8-10 cm wide. They are curved and there are 1-3 per plant. Female plants usually produce one or two cones. These can be 15-30 cm long by 15-20 cm wide. When ripe they are red and fleshy. The seeds are 2.5 cm long by 2-2.5 cm wide. They are oblong and red.

There are about 25 Macrozamia species. It is endemic to Australia.

Where it is found

It grows in all types of soils. It grows naturally in Western Australia. They are in temperate climates with hot dry summers and cool to cold winters. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It requires good drainage. It tolerates moderate frosts. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The fruit are toxic and cause cancer unless well processed. Fruit are buried for some time, then soaked in water. The case around the nut was then roasted before being eaten. The seeds are very starchy and can be crushed and steeped in water and the starch collected. It was then dried.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

The deep red seeds are allowed to ripen and fall out of the husks. They were then gathered and buried in heaps 90-120 cm deep and left for 8-9 months. They were then eaten.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Macrozamia fraseri Miq.; Macrozamia preissii Lehm; Macrozamia oldfieldii (Miq.)A.DC.; Cycas