Macrozamia
(from makros, long, and Zamia, to which it is closely allied). Including Catakidozamia and Lepidozamia. ORD. Cycadaceae. A genus comprising about seven species of greenhouse evergreen perennial, restricted to tropical and temperate Australia. Cones of both sexes ovoid, oblong, or cylindrical, or females rarely nearly globular; scales hard, thickened at apex, with an erect, spreading, or rarely recurved point, either broad and short or elongated and narrow; scales of females with one pendulous ovule on each side. Leaves and trunk similar to Cycas, except that the pinnae have no midrib, and are striate with parallel veins. The species thrive in a compost of two parts well-drained sandy loam and one of peat. For general culture, see Zamia. M. corallipes (red-stalked).* l. forming a very contracted crown, and diverging below, then sub-erect; petiole deep green, smooth, but not polished, reddish-brown towards the base; pinnae about fifty pairs, 5in. to 7in. long, 1/3in. broad, very narrow, linear-lanceolate, acute, but hardly pungent, dark green, with a bright red petiolule. Trunk sub-spherical. 1872. A very remarkable and ornamental plant. Probably a form of M. spiralis. (B. M. 5943.) M. cylindracea (cylindric). l. dark green, pinnate, coriaceous; pinnae glossy on the surface, each being marked at the base with a large ivory-white patch, which strongly contrasts with the dark green midrib lying between the two rows of ivory markings. Stem with a long neck. 1874. Distinctly and well marked, but probably a form of M. spiralis.
M. Denisonii (Denison's). A synonym of M. Perowskiana. The same name is sometimes applied, in gardens, to M. P. Hopei.
M. Fraseri (Fraser's).* l. pinnate, pendulous, 6ft. to 8ft. long; pinnae linear, tapering to a fine spiny point, swollen at the base, forming a joint or umbo, light green or greenish-white, about 6in. long, and scarcely 1/4in.broad; upper surface almost black-green, the under side dark green. Stem about 4ft. or 5ft. in circumference. 1846. A very handsome and distinct species.
M. Mackenzii (Mackenzie's). l. ovate in outline, with numerous pairs of narrow tapering segments of a dark green colour, and from 9in. to 10in. in length; base of petiole covered with loose floccose wool; rachis strongly convex behind, slightly so in front, with the segments of the central portion set on at about 1/2in. apart, the upper ones being more closely, and the lower ones more distantly, placed. 1877. (G. C. n. s., vii. 665.) M. Macleayi (Macleay's). A synonym of M. Perowskiana. M. Miquelli (Miquell's). l. 2ft. to 4ft. long; base of petiole loosely woolly; upper surface of rachis flat, and often 1/2in. broad in the lower part; pinnae straight or falcate, contracted and callous at base and their insertion at the rachis marginal, the lowest often reduced to small teeth. male cones cylindrical, 6in. to 8in. long, 2in. to 2 1/2in. thick. female cones about as long and thicker, the scales fewer.
M. Perowskiana (Peroffski's).* l. dark green, ovate, horizontal, on long stalks, linear, decurved, acuminate. Trunk stout, short, scaly, supporting a crown of leaves. 1870. This species is only known to us in its young state, but has the appearance of being most desirable and beautiful. SYNS. M. Denisonii, M. Macleayi, Catakidozamia Macleayi, and Lepidozamia Peroffskiana. (R. G. 660.) M. P. Hopei (Hope's). l. pinnate, 3ft. to 6ft. long; pinnae entire, linear, 6in. to 12in. long, scarcely 1in. broad, dark green above, tinged with red at the base, paler below; petioles glaucous when young. Stem slender, about 1ft. in diameter in mature plants. 1865. A noble variety, attaining a height of 60ft. in its native country; but it is of very slow growth, and does not rapidly form a stem. SYNS. M. Denisonii (of gardens) and Catakidozamia Hopei. M. plumosa (plumed).* l. erect, spirally-twisted, from 2ft. to 2 1/2ft. long, furnished nearly to the base with narrow-linear leaflets, which are set on at intervals of about 1/4in., and are from 6in. to 8in. long; petiole flattened. Stem small, ovate with woolly scales. 1874. A very beautiful plant, remarkable for its distinct and elegant character. (G. C. n. s., iii. 653.) M. spiralis (spiral). l. pinnate, 1ft. to 3ft. long; pinnae linear, bright shining green, except at the base, where they are ivory-white, forming a broad central white stripe. A very handsome plant, known to us only in its young state.