Zamia page provided by: Jan Meerman
The Zamiaceae are a family within the Cycadophyta
(cycads). These are a small group of plants with many
unique features, an ancient origin and a very long
history. Cycads are known to have lived in the Permian
era, over 200 million years ago - even before the
dinosaurs roamed the earth. Although once abundant
across the globe, the cycads are now greatly reduced
in both numbers and distribution. There are now about
250 species in 11 genera, compared to possibly 300,000
species of flowering plants, the group that now dominates
the world vegetation. All cycads are tropical or subtropical
and each genus has a restricted geographical range.
Belize has a limited number of species but some are
possibly still waiting detection.
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A fruiting cone of
a Zamia
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Zamia's have very tough, leathery and toxic
leaves. I know of only one butterfly genus that specializes
on New World Cycads. This is the Lycaenid genus Eumaeus,
of which two species occur in Belize. The caterpillars
of Eumaeus live in small groups and are brightly
colored (left) displaying their toxic properties.
The rare Eumaeus childrenae I have only recently
been able to confirm for Belize. The specimen seen
was attempting to lay eggs on a large specimen of
Ceratozamia robusta, which i have meanwhile been able to confirm is its
only larval foodplant in Belize.
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Picture
gallery of Zamia species found in Belize:
(click image
for larger size)
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Zamia prasina Bull
The most common Zamia of Belize. Restricted
to The Yucatan (Mexico), Peten (Guatemala) and most
of Belize. There has been considerate confusion about
the taxonomy of this species and previously it has
been referred to as Z. loddigesi, Z. tuerckheimii,
Z. furfuracea and most recently: Z.polymorpha
Stevenson, Moretti & Gaudio. See recent paper
by Calonje
& Meerman (2009) on the taxonomic history.
Most common in open, relatively dry habitats such
as savanna but also found in several forest types.
Large underground tuber-like root. The leaves are
very variable but are rarely larger than 60 cm (2
ft). Very often, each plant is bearing only one leaf.
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There are several forms of Z. prasina,
which may or may not be independent species. This
"form" is found along the Macal River in
the Mountain Pine Ridge area. It differs from the
regular form by having more and narrower leaflets.
There is usually a cluster of at least three leaves
and the tuber-like root is not entirely subterranean
and forms a short stem. As such these plants more
resemble the Mexican Z. loddigesi. The cones
however, are indistinguishable from regular Z.
prasina.
Larval foodplant for the butterfly
Eumaeus toxea.
See
2008 research page
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Zamia variegata Warsz.
Often listed as Z. picta Dyer. Very similar
to Z. prasina but with conspicuously spotted
leaves (resembling a virus infection). Also much larger
(see machete for size in the specimen to the left.
I have seen leaves that were more than 3 m large.
Found only in Southern Guatemala and the wetter parts
of southern Belize. Larval foodplant for the butterfly
Eumaeus toxea.
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Zamia decumbens
Calonje,
Meerman, Griffith and Hoese.
Relatively unknown species. Found only
in remote areas of the Maya Mountains and Chiquibul.
Distinguished from Z. prasina by the larger
number of leaves per plant and the leaflets having
a distinct longitudinal crease. Some plants are fairly
small, resembling a multi-leafed Z. prasina
(Picture to the right), others, and then specifically
in certain Sinkholes in the Toledo District are much
larger, stemmed and resemble a small Ceratozamia.
Larval foodplant for the butterfly
Eumaeus toxea
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Another picture of Z.
decumbens. This is the large morph (mature?),
about 1.50 m high with many leaves.
Most likely the larger plants are simply less disturbed individuals which can thus grow larger and form more leaves.
See 2008 research page
Download
Z.decumbens sp. nov. description (pdf) |
Zamia meermanii Calonje
This species was recently discovered
on inaccessible limestone cliffs in the Belize and
Cayo districts (Meerman & Meadows, 1999). Similar
to the Mexican Z. furfuracea, The species
has very large (1.5 m) "fuzzy" leaves. Always
found on limestone cliffs. Described
as a new species in 2009
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The leaves can get very large and have
a "drooping" appearance.
The male cones (left) are up to 17.5 cm (7")
long and very slender.
As other Zamia species this is
a larval foodplant for the butterfly Eumaeus toxea
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Ceratozamia robusta Miq.
This is a large species. Individual
leaves can reach a length of 3 meters (10'). It can
be relatively common in the Maya Mountains, but distribution
appears patchy. It is usually found on hill sides,
but I have also found specimens in rolling hills.
This
plant appears to be the larval foodplant for the rare
butterfly Eumaeus childrenae
See 2008 research page
See Z. robusta research report |
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