Macrozamia mountperriensis

Location & distribution maps

Plant description

Common name:        Mount Perry Cycad        

Conservation status:   Not endangered

Etymology:   

• Macrozamia …. from Greek, macros, large, referring to the related genus Zamia

• The name is derived from its discovery in Mount Perry, Queensland

Cones & seed:                  

•  Shedding of pollen begins in later months of the year typically October and November

• The plant's seeds shed in the months around Spring                    

• The plant is also distinguishable by cylinder cones growing from the root of the plant

• Male cones are 30 cm long and around 1.3 cm in diameter

• Female cones are 20–40 cm long and have and 10 cm in diameter

• The cones have of small green and orange spots that distinguish it from other plants in the Zamiaceae family

• The seeds are approximately 25 mm long and 16 mm wide and are orange and yellow

Leaves:         

• Leaves are pinnate with 50 to 110 leaflets. 

• Around 80 cm long on average

• Leaflets are straight, approximately 5-9 mm wide 

• Leaves vary in colour depending on age: leaves are lighter green with yellow undertones, whilst the mature leaves are darker

Stem:         

•  The stems range between 15–20 cmin height

Habit:        

• Cycad of small stature and light green leaves

Habitat:   

• The plant thrives in dry and warm conditions and habitat in temperatures above minus 6 degrees celsius

• It typically grows in altitudes between 200 and 400 m on slopes and ranges

• It is typically found in open forest conditions such as eucalypt forests or the Araucarian rainforests

Distribution:                  

• Endemic to the area around Mount Perry in Queensland; however, it is not considered threatened due to its large population in the area

• The plant is also distributed in the townships of Brooweena, Biggenden and Aramara, which are near Mount Perry

• A number of plants from the macrozamia genus are common in this region and are found close to the town of Mount Perry

Additional notes:        

• Macrozamia mountperriensis is very similar to Macrozamia miquelii, but it can be distinguished by its longer petioles, smaller cones and seeds.

• Insects, including those in the order Coleoptera, provide pollination to the plant

• Other species of plants in the genus Macrozamia are endemic to other Australian states, including New South Wales and the Northern Territory. Other plants within the Zamiacae family are located in tropical regions such as North America, South America and Africa. 

• It has strong habitat across a number of forests in the Mount Perry region in Queensland. Macrozamia mountperriensis has multiple colonies, strong seedling and is present in many national parks. Macrozamia mountperriensis is not on the IUCN Red List category which is the official assessment system to classify and determine at-risk plants or organisms.

• Poisoness

  • All members of the Zamiaceae family are considered to be poisonous.

  • The plant also is known to contain symbiotic cyanobacteria and can be toxic. 

• Taxonomy

  • The species was discovered by colonial botanists including Frederick Manson Bailey and James Keys in the late 1800

Sources of information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrozamia_mountperriensis (2023)