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Ceratozamia latifolia
Miq.
(no common name)
Zamiaceae
Ceratozamia latifolia is a species of cycad in the family Zamiaceae. It is restricted to the state of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Despite its rarity, it is often grown as a houseplant.
Description
Ceratozamia latifolia is a short, sometimes suckering cycad. Leaves are few, up to seven, dark green, 0.9 to 1.5 m long and 35 to 50 cm wide, pinnate, on a 35 to 40 cm long, slightly armed leafstalk. They have many stiff, leathery leaflets, generally about 20 to 30 cm long and 33 to 43 mm wide; the edges of the leaflets are smooth, often rolled downwards. Leaflets on shaded plants tend to have flatter, more widely spaced leaflets. Male (pollen) cones are long, erect, 20 to 25 cm tall and 3 cm wide, conical, dull greenish, with an abruptly pointed tip. The stalk is 3.5 to 4 cm long, fuzzy-hairy. Sporophylls (cone “scales”) are flattened, 3 mm high and 7 to 8 mm wide, wedge shaped. Seeds are borne on separate plants. Female cones hold seeds, and are erect at first but then start to lean, about 15 to 16.5 cm long, 6.5 to 7.5 cm wide, on a 2 to 4 cm long stalk. Sporophylls have faces that are 16 mm high, 25 to 28 mm wide, dull greenish with some brown scales near the center. Seeds are about 2.0 to 2.4 cm long, 1.1 to 1.6 cm wide, with an outer layer (sarcotesta) that is white, ripening to brown (Whitelock 2003).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Despite being endangered, Ceratozamia latifolia is quite popular as a conservatory plant, as it is compact and relatively shade-tolerant (Whitelock 2003).
Distribution
Ceratozamia latifolia is restricted to limestone hills and canyons, at elevations of about 500 m. It is endemic to the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí, around Xilitla and Tamazunchale (Whitelock 2003).
Status
Ceratozamia latifolia is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Endangered". Its range, already quite small, has additionally been reduced due to habitat destruction for growing banana and coffee. It has also been over-collected in the past. It is listed in Appendix I of CITES, an international treaty regulating the trade of endangered species (Vovides et al. 2010).
References
Vovides, A., Chemnick, J., and Gregory, T. 2010. Ceratozamia latifolia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T42140A10664864.en.
Whitelock, L. M. 2003. The Cycads. Portland: Timber Press.
Whitelock, L. M. 2003. The Cycads. Portland: Timber Press.
Description
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