Cycads   Zamia fairchildiana

Distribution & Habitat: Found mainly in southeastern Costa Rica but with some populations occurring to Cuna Yala in eastern Panama. It is found at elevations from 50 to 1500m, but the largest populations occure on slopes of varying soil types ranging from clay to rocky in primary and secondary rainforest at elevations from 400 to 900m. Description: A very attractive plant, up to 2m tall, with a stem up to 15cm in diameter. It has up to 10 leaves, to 2.5m long, each with a densely prickled petiole, and up to 30 pairs of oblong, pointed glossy green leaflets, up to 40cm long, and 4cm wide. General: Very closely related to Z. pseudomonticola Culture: Warm, shady, and moist conditions are best. Very good in pots.

Figure 1. Z. fairchildiana

Figure 2. Z. fairchildiana in habitat, Osa peninsula, Costa Rica.

Figure 3. Z. fairchildiana female cones.

Figure 4. Z. fairchildiana female cones.

Figure 5. Z. fairchildiana male cones.

Links:	Montgomery Botanical Gardens Spring 2007 Newsletter (Page 4)
Contributed by:	Mike Gray (Figure 1)
	Michael Calonje, Montgomery Botanical Center (Figure 2,3,4&5)

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