Common Name: Zamia Fern

General Information

Bowenia spectabilis is an evergreen cycad producing a crown of 1 - 7 leaves, each 100 - 200cm long, on the top of a thick, underground, tuber-like stem that can be up to 30cm long and 12cm in diameter[, , , ].
The root was used by the Aborigines of Australia as a food, and the plant is occasionally grown as an ornamental.
Bowenia spectabilis has a large population in the wild and low levels of decline. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2010)[].

Known Hazards

The seeds are poisonous[].
The plant is toxic to livestock, the poison being cumulative and leading to weakness in the hindquarters[, ].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Australia - northern Queensland.

Habitat

Scattered in open situations in and around rainforest in north-eastern Queensland; at elevations up to 600 metres[, ]. A common understorey plant of the wetter rainforests and their margins at low to moderate elevations[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Bowenia spectabilis is native to the tropical zone of Queensland, favouring a wet/dry seasonal climate and growing in a region where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,500 - 2,500mm, falling mainly in the summer. Summer high temperatures can reach 30°c, and winter lows average 17°c with the lowest recorded temperature slightly below 0°c[, ].
Requires a position in some shade, preferably dappled[]. Requires a moist but well-drained soil[]. Cycads will generally not grow well in clay soils unless those soils are heavily amended with sand and organic matter[]. A neutral soil (pH 7), is generally best for most species of cycads and allows the proper absorption of nutrients. A slightly acid soil is better for most cycads than a basic one[].
A slow-growing plant[].
Bowenias may go into a dormant state for long periods of time, sometimes for a number of years. This is usually brought about by some negative factor such as drought or heat[].
Species in this genus can usually be transplanted easily even when quite large. The best time for moving them is just before the beginning of a new growing season, the roots being trimmed if they are damaged and perhaps some leaves being removed. New roots should develop quickly as the season progresses[].
Species in this genus often form structures known as coralloid roots. These roots branch off from the taproot or secondary roots and are distinctive in that they grow laterally or upward, forming a nodular mass at the apex. These coralloid roots occur slightly below or slightly above the soil surface and generally contain cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae. These are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen and make it available as a nutrient to the plant. The ability to extract this important nutrient from the air explains how many cycad species are able to survive on almost sterile soils[].
A dioecious species, with individual plants producing either all male or all female cones. Therefore both male and female forms of the plant need to be grown if seed is required[]. On very rare occasions, usually when a plant has been under severe stress, it can change sex and produce either all female or all male cones[].
Pollination must be by insects as both female and male cones are generally produced under leaf litter, making wind pollination nearly impossible[].

Edible Uses

The large, yam-like rhizomes are eaten by the Aborigines[]. Rich in starch, they are baked before eating[].

Cycads have often been used traditionally as a source of food starch, obtained either from the seeds or from the stems, and it is probable that the seed kernels and stem pith of all cyeads can be used as food after treatment to remove any toxic principle that may be present (See notes above on toxicity). The starch would appear to be of particular importance as a source of sustenance during hard times or in areas where the food supply is naturally limited[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seeds - best sown as soon as they are ripe, though the seeds of many species can take 12 months or more to finish maturing the embryo before they are ready to germinate. Sow the seeds in a tray in a freely-draining medium and place in moderate shade. Bottom heat at about 27°c will hasten seed germination dramatically. Young roots are quite brittle and once germination takes place, the root grows rapidly. It is important to pot up the seedlings at this time in order to give them enough root-space. Grow on the plants in pots until large enough to plant out[, ].
Division of off-sets or suckers is best carried out just before the plant comes in to new growth at the start of the growing season[].

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