Zamia furfuracea

Carboard palm            

                                   ID#1002

 

Seed collected from Key West Garden Club located at Martello Tower, Key West Florida.

Zamia furfuracea is a cycad native to southeastern Veracruz state in eastern Mexico. Pinnate, feathery-like, leaves which grow from the center of the trunk reaching 3-4ft long. Leaves are olive green, overlapping, with a fuzzy surface that looks like they are made of plastic. They feel like cardboard to the touch, hence the name Cardboard Palm. Although not a palm, but with similar growth habit.

Prone to pests and rot at the crown.

HEIGHT X SPREAD: 3-4 ft x 6 ft PLANT TYPE: Tropical Cycad GROWTH RATE: Moderate TEXTURE: bold LIGHT: full sun or shade, but not in constant deep shade WATER:easy to care for. Grows best in moist, well-drained soil. Water when dry. Drought tolerant. SOIL: Potting soil, well drain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soilshapeimage_1_link_0
As observed in Coastal NC. BLOOMS: N/A Brown fuzzy cones, large one on female plants, small one in male plants. FRUIT AND SEED: Plant can only be reproduced by the fleshy, brightly crimson-colored seeds produced by the female plants. The germination process is very slow and difficult to achieve in cultivation. Take about 6 months to sprout. * reed more below ..... KEY FEATURES: All parts of plant are poisonous. No treatment know.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seedhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germinationshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1
A year cycle in the life of ...... at Mooring Hitch This plant produces a rusty-brown cone in the center of the female plant. A egg-shaped female (seed-producing) cones. Asmaller male (pollen-producing) cone clusters are produced on separate plants. Pollination is by certain insects, namely the belid weevil Rhopalotria mollis. - 1 seedling out of 2 seeds planted, took about 5- 6 months to sprout. Hope it is a female because the showy cones.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strobilushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollinationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insecthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belidaehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weevilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rhopalotria_mollis&action=edit&redlink=1shapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1shapeimage_3_link_2shapeimage_3_link_3shapeimage_3_link_4shapeimage_3_link_5shapeimage_3_link_6
          Mooring Hitch Gardens       
 

February 2016

January 2016

Additional Information:  Seeds acquired at Key West Garden Club Botanical Gardens (2 planted, one sprouted at 5-6 months.)

Fresh fleshy seeds ready to plant