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. June 2024: Plant grew very well, until the base ball exceeded the pot diameter. Poor circulation at its location made it vulnerable to mealy bugs and became difficult to control. DISCARDED plant, it had a good run, but I have not space big enough for it to grow properly.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       
 

June 2024

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