Cycad ID... help !

[Dave H]

Afternoon all,

I'm hoping someone can help me out with this. I have lost my ID tag for this cycad. I think its a Zamia...

Thanks

Dave

[Dave H]

One more shot...

[LJG]

Zamia integrifolia?

[Dave H]

I am pretty sure its not one of the U.S. or Florida species. The leaflets are very long and much more spaced out. I remember it being something somewhat unusual...

Dave

[virtualpalm]

I am pretty sure its not one of the U.S. or Florida species. The leaflets are very long and much more spaced out. I remember it being something somewhat unusual...

Dave

Dave, I have to agree with Len (again) on this one. Your plant looks like a male Florida coontie -- whose name, by the way, is Zamia floridana.

Jody

[Dave H]

Thanks Len and Jody,

I found my tag, you were correct Len, at least as it is marked Integrifolia. The funny thing is it does not look to me like any of the pics I see, or the other floridiana that I have. The leaflets are much longer, spaced more apart, and usually fairly flat apposing not V'd like you see in the pictures. So I am still cornfused...

Dave

[LJG]

Dave, the male cones with the newest leaves make it a dead ringer for Zamia floridana (which I never new changed names). I bet it is one of the few Zamias that can grow outside in your zone?

[virtualpalm]

Coonties can be highly variable -- so much so that some folks think that there are at least two distinct species here in Florida. I have seen coonties in habitat in at least 25 different populations all over the state. They range from plants like yours to large, wide-leafleted monsters on the central east coast to diminutive, narrow-leafleted, heavily keeled ("V-ed" leaves) plants in southeastern Florida. There is also a large range of phenotypic plasticity in these plants based primarily on how much sunlight they receive. Thus, there is no single "look" to this species, so your confusion is understandable.

Here are just a few of the "forms" that I have seen in habitat:

Jody

[Dave H]

Thanks Jody,

That explains my cornfusion... There is one from the original batch that I bought mine from, in filtered sun that still looks considerably different than any of your photos. Very widely spaced narrower leaflets. Oh and does this species come from other countries, and do they look any different..?

Thanks

Dave

[virtualpalm]

Thanks Jody,

That explains my cornfusion... There is one from the original batch that I bought mine from, in filtered sun that still looks considerably different than any of your photos. Very widely spaced narrower leaflets. Oh and does this species come from other countries, and do they look any different..?

Thanks

Dave

Zamia floridana is essentially endemic to Florida. There are several other species on various islands in the Caribbean. They are all a bit different, but none of them really look like the coontie.

Jody

[Moose]

I have one with multiple male cones with no coning females around yet. Question: Can I remove the male cones to promote more vigorous growth or let it do it's thing?

Ron.

[virtualpalm]

I have one with multiple male cones with no coning females around yet. Question: Can I remove the male cones to promote more vigorous growth or let it do it's thing?

Ron.

It really won't make any difference on growth of a male plant if you remove or leave the cones. I would encourage you to leave them in case there is a female plant in the neighborhood.

Jody

[Moose]

Thanks Jody!

If it will not change the growth rate then I am leaving the cones.

Perhaps it will attract some butterflies?

Maybe I should mulch it with guacamole

Ron.