Zamia hamannii
Hamann's Zamia
Formerly confused with Zamia skinneri, this recently described, stunning new cycad sports huge, ribbed leaflets to 65 cm (26 in.) long and a spectacular, reddish-golden to almost silvery-orange new flush of leaves. It is native only to a small island off the Caribbean coast of western Panama, where it grows close to the sea. Unfortunately it is under immediate threat of extinction through clearing of its forest habitat and through larger plants being chopped down for use as an aphrodisiac. Only a few hundred adult plants remain. In cultivation, it will do best in a tropical or frost free warm temperate climate but is very rare and even seedlings fetch a price of several hundred dollars. |