Macrozamia miquelii
(F.Muell.) A.DC.
Zamiaceae
This species is part of a complex of closely related taxa occurring in a mosaic pattern in southern Queensland[
990- Title
- The Cycad Pages
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/PlantNet/cycad/wlist.html
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
- Year
- 2012
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A website dedicated to the various species of Cycad, with a comprehensive description of all the known species (as of 2012). At present (2015), the site is still running but is no longer being updated
]. Although we have seen no specific information, it is most likely that the other taxa have the same uses as this one[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Encephalartos miquelii F.Meull.
Common Name:
Plant growing in native habitat in Mount Archer National Park, Rockhampton, Queensland.
Photograph by: Ethel Aardvark

General Information
Macrozamia miquelii is a slow-growing, evergreen, usually stemless, shrub producing a rosette of 30 - 80 leaves in the crown, the leaves being 80 - 210cm long[
]. If a stem is formed, then it is generally up to 40cm long and 30 - 40cm in diameter[
]. The stem can be up to 1 metre long[
440- Title
- Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network,
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on plants in the Queensland Rainforests.
].
Although poisonous, the seeds were a traditional food of the Australian Aborigines.
A locally abundant species, but its population is decreasing. It is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
The raw seed is toxic and requires treatment prior to eating it[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
Range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland.
Habitat
Scattered in sclerophyll forests in poor soils[
]. On ridges and slopes in open forest, along the margins of streams and in and around the fringes of rainforest[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Edibility Rating |  |
Other Uses Rating |   |
Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
Height | 2.00 m |
Growth Rate | Slow |
Self-fertile | No |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant mainly of subtropical regions[
].
An easy plant to grow, accepting full sun and partial shade[
314- Title
- Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
]. Requires a well-drained soil[
440- Title
- Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network,
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on plants in the Queensland Rainforests.
]. Succeeds in the wild in a wide range of soils and situations, from rich peat to grit; in soils from almost swampy to dry rocks; and in shade as well as full sun[
385- Title
- Bihrmann's Caudiciforms
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An internet site giving information on caudiciform plants (plants with swollen stem bases such as the Baobab tree, cycads and many succulents). Excellent photos, usually of cultivated plants in pots.
].
A slow-growing species[
440- Title
- Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network,
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on plants in the Queensland Rainforests.
].
This is a restricted species in Queensland and, as such, a license is required to harvest, propagate trade or deal with it in any way[
440- Title
- Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network,
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on plants in the Queensland Rainforests.
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
440- Title
- Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network,
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on plants in the Queensland Rainforests.
].
Edible Uses
Seed - cooked[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. The raw seed is toxic and needs to be treated to make it edible[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. The Australian Aborigines would do this by several methods - one involved cooking the seed in ashes, another involved soaking the seeds in water for several days, then pounding them[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].The seeds were made fit to eat by a laborious process of cracking, soaking, grinding and baking[
193- Title
- Wild Food Plants of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Low. T.
- Publisher
- Angus and Robertson.
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 0-207-14383-8
- Description
- Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
]. Old, shrivelled seeds are said to be edible raw[
193- Title
- Wild Food Plants of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Low. T.
- Publisher
- Angus and Robertson.
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 0-207-14383-8
- Description
- Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The starch contained in the trunk has been processed and used in laundries[
193- Title
- Wild Food Plants of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Low. T.
- Publisher
- Angus and Robertson.
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 0-207-14383-8
- Description
- Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
].
Soft brown hairs are formed on the bases of the young leaves[
156- Title
- Useful Wild Plants in Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
- Publisher
- William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-00-216441-8
- Description
- A very readable book.
]. These have at times been harvested from wild plants and used as a stuffing material in pillows, upholstery etc[
156- Title
- Useful Wild Plants in Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
- Publisher
- William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-00-216441-8
- Description
- A very readable book.
].
Propagation
Seed - it is easy to germinate from fresh seed, though it might take 2 years to do so[
440- Title
- Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network,
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on plants in the Queensland Rainforests.
].
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