Cycads   Macrozamia miquelii II

M. miquelli at Mt Archer

Macrozamia miquelii is one of the most under used cycads in both commercial and home gardens scenes. It is a very easy to grow and will take both full sun and shade. In Byfield national park it grows in semi-swamp in pine plantations and on dry rocky slopes. Bowenia serrulata also grows in this area and is something like a companion plant. If you wish to see this cycad up close the best place is Mt Archer on the outskirts of Rockhampton. While travelling through Byfield I came across one taipan and one death adder so I did not leave the road.

Macrozamia miquelii is perfect for medium to small yards. It is very easy to grow from seed though slow for the first few years. Your best bet would be to purchase a good size plant and add this to your garden. It grows very much like a small M. moorei to about 0.5 m high and about 1m across. Its male cone grows to 40 cm and female cone to 20 cm. The seeds are 2-3 cm when ripe and are a pale orange colour.

On Mt Archer it grows in abundance along pathways. This is the easiest and safest way to admire this very nice cycad. Cycas ophiolitica also grows on Mt Archer so in one trip you get to see two for the price of one.

Figure 1. M. miquelii

Figure 2. Leaf detail

Figure 3. M. miquelii female cones.

Figure 4. Female cone.

Figure 5. Female cone.

Figure 6. Lovely habitat shot at Mt Archer.

Figure 7. M. miquelii with a view.

Contributed by:

Chris Gray