what Zamia is this? ID needed

[Eric in Orlando]

This Zamia was recently donated but the species was unknown. Any ideas what it may be? There are small spines along the lower petioles.

 

 

[Tracy]

9 hours ago, Eric in Orlando said:

This Zamia was recently donated but the species was unknown. Any ideas what it may be? There are small spines along the lower petioles.

When you mentioned Zamia, the leaflets resembled some juvenile leaflets on my Zamia inermis which normally puts out narrower leaflets.  Z inermis would have no spines though.  The limited Zamia's I could think of would either have some marginal leaflet teeth or not have any spines on the lower petiole.  This brings me back to my other initial thought which was a Ceratozamia.  Young C mexicana and C pacifica leaflets look like that and they would have the spiny lower petioles.  Below is Z inermis with more narrow leaflets (both mine flushed fewer leaves when smaller but the leaflets were wider like your plant in question).  The other photo of the lone leaf is that of a mature Ceratozamia pacifica, some of its leaflets are straight like yours, but others have more curve to them.  Nothing definitive in my response, but you can rule  out Z inermis and open up some other thoughts on the Ceratozamias.

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

First impression of that pic: That looks like a ceratozamia. Can you post a pic of petiole prickles?

[Eric in Orlando]

Here are some closeups of the spines along the lower leaf petioles.

 

 

[Eric in Orlando]

[Tracy]

15 minutes ago, Eric in Orlando said:

 

Eric, imo that caudex looks more like a Ceratozamia than Zamia.  I'll be the first to admit that I'm not an expert with these, just a little personal experience.  Often that can be the most dangerous, so let's see if an expert comes in to blow my thoughts right out of the water with the correct id!

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Thats definitely a ceratozamia.  Here is a link to the ceratozamia identification guide 

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.cycad.org/documents/Key-to-the-Species-of-Ceratozamia.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjU9ZKo4uPcAhXj6IMKHd2mBrsQFjAAegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw3NWj1ZPu2NsehWzia7YF_p

[Eric in Orlando]

Thanks!!!

[Tracy]

On 8/10/2018, 5:45:18, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

Thats definitely a ceratozamia.  Here is a link to the ceratozamia identification guide 

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.cycad.org/documents/Key-to-the-Species-of-Ceratozamia.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjU9ZKo4uPcAhXj6IMKHd2mBrsQFjAAegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw3NWj1ZPu2NsehWzia7YF_p

That is a helpful guide but this genus is still tricky as some will change quite a bit as the go from seedlings to maturity.  I still come away a bit baffled with Ceratozamias.  I have to wonder sometimes if some nursery plants are unidentified hybrids too, further complicating ID's. That is a useful guide and one of the best starting points though Eric.... good luck and you may have to wait a couple of seasons of growth to get to a final answer.

[Eric in Orlando]

I will be waiting for a new flush of leaves to help ID it.