Zamia inermis in the garden

[Al in Kona]

My Zamia inermis growing in the garden.  It currently measures about 1.0m (3+ft.) tall and it is 2.0 m (6.5 ft) wide.  It grows in a mostly full sun location and has never been fertilized or rarely given supplemental water. 

[Pedro 65]

Wow Al, must have so many caudexe's, I imagine it will just keep spreading? Looks very fern like and very healthy, good job.  Pete  :)

                                                        

[Monòver]

3 hours ago, Pedro 65 said:

Wow Al, must have so many caudexe's, I imagine it will just keep spreading? Looks very fern like and very healthy, good job.  Pete  :)

                                                        

Yes!!! It is very healthy and looks like a tender fern.

[Really full garden]

These are native here and normally lose the foliage during the long dry season on the Pacific coast. In the garden when well watered the foliage remains. I have these in both gardens and they look great. One of my favorites.

[XYZ]

Al:

Nice looking cycad there.

Scott:

You may be thinking of Zamia herrerae, which is indeed native to the Guatemalan Pacific piedmont from border to border. I have seen them growing as fairly common relics just northwest of Taxisco, so they probably persist in your general neighborhood. A good "tell" that you have native populations nearby is if you get persistent attacks by Zamia butterfly larva (Eumaeus sp.) on new leaf flushes every year. While there is some superficial resemblance between the two, Z. inermis is a very localized and endangered Mexican (Veracruz) Gulf coast endemic.

J

[Really full garden]

4 hours ago, stone jaguar said:

Al:

Nice looking cycad there.

Scott:

You may be thinking of Zamia herrerae, which is indeed native to the Guatemalan Pacific piedmont from border to border. I have seen them growing as fairly common relics just northwest of Taxisco, so they probably persist in your general neighborhood. A good "tell" that you have native populations nearby is if you get persistent attacks by Zamia butterfly larva (Eumaeus sp.) on new leaf flushes every year. While there is some superficial resemblance between the two, Z. inermis is a very localized and endangered Mexican (Veracruz) Gulf coast endemic.

J

Jay thanks for the species ID. Mine came from the cattle pastures of my old home Caobanal. Those pastures are all covered in sugar cane now.

[Alicehunter2000]

That thing is ENERMIS! 

[cycadjungle]

Yes, Zamia inermis comes from a single hill in Veracruz Mexico. No way it could be in Guatemala.  Tom

[virtualpalm]

My understanding is that the type locality has been exterminated, but another, larger, population has since been discovered.

This is an interesting species in that the new suckers (or "heads") that form on the periphery of the caudex (as many zamias tend to do as they age) do not grow their own roots. Each plant has a single, huge taproot at the very center of the caudex mass, and all the new suckers grow out from the center creating a huge circular "shelf" that sits on top of the ground or just below the surface. I have seen this taproot be 5-6" in diameter on a very large plant (leaves to 5' tall and overall spread to 8'+ in diameter). They can be successfully moved even when this large taproot is cut, but I would recommend against it unless absolutely necessary. They grow quite well in full sun and tolerate some pretty harsh conditions.

[Pedro 65]

Many thanks for all the info Jody, much appreciated.  Pete  

3 hours ago, virtualpalm said:

My understanding is that the type locality has been exterminated, but another, larger, population has since been discovered.

This is an interesting species in that the new suckers (or "heads") that form on the periphery of the caudex (as many zamias tend to do as they age) do not grow their own roots. Each plant has a single, huge taproot at the very center of the caudex mass, and all the new suckers grow out from the center creating a huge circular "shelf" that sits on top of the ground or just below the surface. I have seen this taproot be 5-6" in diameter on a very large plant (leaves to 5' tall and overall spread to 8'+ in diameter). They can be successfully moved even when this large taproot is cut, but I would recommend against it unless absolutely necessary. They grow quite well in full sun and tolerate some pretty harsh conditions.