Macrozamia flexuosa

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Figure 1. M. flexuosa in habitat.

Introduction:

Macrozamia flexuosa is a small (Section Parazamia) cycad that is endemic to New South Wales. It has a subterranean caudex and multi-twisted rachises.

History:

Following a revision of L A S Johnsons 1959 separation of Macrozamia pauli-guilielmi into 3 sub-species, M. flexuosa (previously M. pauli-guilielmi ssp. flexuosa) was recognized as a separate and distinct species by David Jones in 1991. It is named after its multi-twisted rachis, on the basis that it is sinuous, like a coiled snake.

Distribution Range:

M. flexuosa has a distribution range which is centred around the Hunter Valley and extends to the southern sections of the mid-North Coast. M. flexuosa can be found growing in the Cessnock region on flat, poor quality clay-based soil, under a eucalypt canopy with a thick, bushy Bursaria sp. understorey.

Climatic Data:

Cessnock (elevation 62 metres) has an annual average rainfall of 769 mm (spread over 102 rain days) with winter minimum and summer maximum temperatures (reached at least once per week in July and January) of -0.4 and 36.1°C. respectively. Frosts occur on an average of 28 days per year.

Rainfall Patterns:

Over 60% of the annual rainfall at Cessnock falls during summer and autumn. The percentage seasonal rainfall pattern is as follows: Summer: 34%, Autumn: 28%, Winter: 15% and Spring: 23%.

Principal Characteristics:

The principal characteristics of M. flexuosa are:

a more or less straight/erect rachis, despite turning through multiple spiral twists

mid green coloured fronds which reach an average length of 60-80 cm, ranging up to a maximum length of approximately 1 metre in comparison with an average frond length of 60-80 cm

yellowish callouses at the base of the pinnae, though new fronds on some plants have pinkish-red pinnae callouses

Plants:

M. flexuosa normally has an unbranched subterranean caudex and grows under a eucalypt canopy in a pattern of large stands of numerous scattered individual plants and, occasionally, small groups of plants.

Fronds:

M. flexuosa normally has an average of 4-6 fronds, ranging up to a maximum of 12-14 fronds. Plants with 1-3 fronds are not uncommon. The fronds normally have a long, round petiole. The fronds on M. flexuosa change from an initially light green as the fronds emerge, to a mid-green colour as the fronds mature. One unusual feature of M. flexuosa , is that new fronds on some plants have reddish-brown coloured petioles and rachises, compared with the normal greenish coloured petioles and rachises. With age, however, the reddish-brown petioles and rachises change colour to a normal mid-green colour. Likewise, some new fronds have pinkish-red callouses at the bases of the pinnae. With age, however, these callouses change from a pinkish-red colour to a creamy-white colour. The rachises on M. flexuosa normally twist through 2-6 complete 360 degree revolutions, with the average number of twists usually numbering 3-4.

Pinnae:

In similar manner to other species with multi-twisted rachises, the pinnae on Macrozamia plurinervia fronds appear to extend radially from the rachis (like the branches of a tree) but, in fact, the rachis itself spirally twists through a number of complete 360 degree revolutions. Because of the spiral twisting of the rachis, the pinnae normally extend in various directions from the rachis and ultimately form the basis of a frond structure with a more or less spirally ascending spread of pinnae. The pinnae are normally angled slightly forward (from the rhachis), with the apical pinnae often being inclined at a more acute angle to the rhachis. The angle between the rhachis and the median pinnae is usually about 45-50 degrees.

Cones:

Female cones are usually solitary, though plants with two cones are not uncommon. Male plants can have up to 3 cones. Coning occurs on an irregular basis, though probably more frequently than most of the inland Macrozamia species.

Comment:

M. flexuosa is reasonably common in the Newcastle area and is recorded as growing alongside and hybridising with Macrozamia reducta (previously part of the Macrozamia communis complex) in coastal suburbs of Newcastle. Further inland, near Cessnock, a large stand of M. reducta can be found growing between two disjunct stands of M. flexuosa with some obvious hybrids being evident. In one of the above locations, a large stand of M. flexuosa can be found growing in and around the town rubbish dump. This is not a unique situation as it also occurs with stands of both M. communis and Macrozamia spiralis.

Affinities:

On an affinity basis, in respect of New South Wales cycads, M. flexuosa is related to Macrozamia concinna, Macrozamia fawcettii and M. plurinervia, the other species with multi-twisted rachises. Both M. fawcettii and Macrozamia plurinervia are larger and more robust than M. flexuosa; specifically they have broader petioles and rachises, and, also, broader pinnae, than M. flexuosa. On the other hand M. concinna is smaller than M. flexuosa. On balance, M. flexuosa has a closer relationship to Macrozamia concinna, than to either Macrozamia fawcettii or Macrozamia plurinervia, even though M. concinna was, in effect, segregated from Macrozamia plurinervia.

Figure 2. M. flexuosain habitat.

Figure 3. M. flexuosalooking down on frond.

Figure 4. M. flexuosafemale cone.

Figure 5. M. flexuosa frond detail.

Figure 6. M. flexuosa detached frond.

Figure 7. M. flexuosain habitat.

Figure 8. M. flexuosa in habitat.

Figure 9. M. flexuosa

Figure 10. M. flexuosa

Figure 11. M. flexuosa looking down.

Figure 12. M. flexuosa

Contributed by:

Craig Thompson and Paul Kennedy (Text & Figures1-12)

External Links:

World List, IUCN, JSTOR, Trebrown

Google, GoogleImages, Flickr,