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Macrozamia spp. - Various

Common Name Burrawang, Cycads
Family Cycadaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards The raw seed is toxic and requires treatment prior to eating it[46].
Habitats Wet to dry sclerophyll forests, in coastal areas they grow in sandy soils and in nearby coastal ranges they grow in gravelly loams.
Range Origin: Australia. All of which are endemic to Australia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Wet Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Macrozamia spp. Burrawang, Cycads


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Macrozamia spp. Burrawang, Cycads
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Macrozamia spp. is an evergreen Perennial growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Many. See individual species.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed  Stem
Edible Uses:

Parts of the plant are used for food and material but are toxic if untreated. The raw seed is toxic and requires treatment prior to eating it[46]. With Macrozamia communis (Burrawang) the sea kernals can be eaten after processing. Aged seeds have a distinctive flavor reminiscent of mild cheese - ground into flower for cakes. Leached kernals eaten raw, wrapped in paperbark and baked, or made into bread [183]. Macrozamia denisonii (Burrawang) stems are asource of edible starch [183]. Macrozamia miquelii - Seed - cooked[46]. The raw seed is toxic and needs to be treated to make it edible[46]. 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].The seeds were made fit to eat by a laborious process of cracking, soaking, grinding and baking[193]. Old, shrivelled seeds are said to be edible raw[193].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None Known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Carbon Farming Solutions - Industrial Crop: starch (Crops grown for non-food uses. Industrial crops provide resources in three main categories: materials, chemicals, and energy. Traditional materials include lumber and thatch, paper and cardboard, and textiles) [1-1]. Genera to investigate include: Cycas, Dioon, Encephalartos, Macrozamia, Microcycas, and Zamia [1-1]. Nearly all cycads fix low amounts of nitrogen. Ornamental - Landscape Uses: Border, Container, Massing, Seashore, Specimen.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Hypothetical Crop  Industrial Crop: Starch  Management: Standard

Climate: warm temperate to tropical. Humidity: arid to humid. Dioecious palmlike shrubs. Several species were important food sources for Australian Aborigines, after extensive processing to remove toxins. The more abundant species have also been recorded as livestock poisons. Most species have at some time gone under the common name of Burrawang. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: hypothetical. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation) [1-1].

Carbon Farming

  • Hypothetical Crop  These are perennial plants that could potentially be developed for cultivation. Some, such as cycads (for industrial starch), as simply neglected; others, such as buckwheat and soybeans, are annual crops that could potentially be perennialised by crossing and relatives.
  • Industrial Crop: Starch  Materials and chemicals include bioplastics, paper, cardboard, solvents, paints, glues etc. Plants are usually pods, starchy fruits, nuts & seeds, starchy trunks.
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - it is easy to germinate from fresh seed, though it might take 2 years to do so[440].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Burrawang, Macrozamia species, Macrozamia SPP, Burrawang species.

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Australia. Southeast Queensland and New South Wales, Northern Territory, Southwest region of Australia.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Botanical References

Links / References

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Subject : Macrozamia spp.  
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