Australian Native Plants

  Macrozamia johnsonii (Johnsons Cycad)


Macrozamia johnsonii photo
Macrozamia johnsonii, photo taken at Seaside Palm Growers Nursery, Capistrano Beach, California

Photograph by Polihale. Some rights reserved.    (view image details)




JOHNSONS CYCAD FACTS

distribution map showing range of Macrozamia johnsonii in Australia

Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License


Common Name
Johnsons Cycad

Description
Johnson's Cycad (Macrozamia johnsonii) is a large spectacular cycad, and the largest cycad species in New South Wales. Macrozamia johnsonii used to be known as the New South Wales form of Macrozamia moorei, being recognised as a separate species in 1992. It has mid green to dark green fronds that can grow to 3m long. A plant can grow up to 150 fronds growing from either a subterranean caudex or a stout trunk to 3m tall. The fronds initially grown almost vertically, and arch with age. Some plants retain dead fronds in a skirt around the plant. The female plant usually produced 3 or 4 cones (up to 6). The female cones are spiny and grow to 65cm long and 20cm in diameter, weighing up to 14kg. Male cones grow to 40cm long and 10cm in diameter; and are also spined. Male plants can produce about 10 cones The cycad seeds are flattened ovoid and about 40mm to 55mm long and 25mm to 30mm wide.

Habitat
steep, rocky slopes in wet or dry eucalypt forest

Distribution
endemic to New South Wales on the mountain ranges between Grafton and Glen Innes on the Great Dividing Range.

Growth Characteristics
Height: 3m
Spread: 4m

Propagation
propagation is from seed

Classification
Class:Cycadopsida
Order:Cycadales
Family:Zamiaceae
Genus:Macrozamia
Species:johnsonii
Common Name:Johnsons Cycad


Relatives in same Genus
  Macrozamia communis
  Macrozamia macdonnellii
  Macrozamia miquelii
  Macrozamia moorei
  Macrozamia riedlei