Macrozamia communis L.A.S. Johnson 1959

Common name(s): Burrawang

Family: Zamiaceae Synonym(s): Macrozamia amabilis W.Bull, Encephalartos spiralis var. major Miq., Macrozamia australis Schaedtler, Macrozamia eximia W. Bull, Macrozamia spiralis var. eximia W. Bull, Regel

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond

Taken by Ken Harrington

Pinna

Taken by Ken Harrington

Fruit

Taken by Ken Harrington

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Palm / Palm Ally Properties

Origin(s)

Australia

NSW: NC, CC, SC

Plant Type

Cycad, Frond Retained, Palm Ally, Solitary

Cycad,

Frond Retained,

Palm Ally,

Solitary

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub

Temperate Warm,

Mediterranean,

Tropical-Sub

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Morning, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light, Shade - Medium

Sun - Morning,

Shade - Dappled,

Shade - Light,

Shade - Medium

Habitat Range(s)

Open Woodlands, Sclerophyll Forest - Dry, Sclerophyll Forest - Wet

Open Woodlands,

Sclerophyll Forest - Dry,

Sclerophyll Forest - Wet

Habitat Zone(s)

Garden, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Hill Sides, Landscape, Moist Slopes, Ridges, Sandy Moist, Understory, Well drained

Garden,

Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,

Hill Sides,

Landscape,

Moist Slopes,

Ridges,

Sandy Moist,

Understory,

Well drained

Mature Height

750mm-1m, 1-1.5m, 1.5-2m, 2-2.5m, 2.5-3m, 3-4m

750mm-1m,

1-1.5m,

1.5-2m,

2-2.5m,

2.5-3m,

3-4m

Mature Width

3-4m

Growth Rate

Slow, Moderate

Slow,

Moderate

Plant Shape

Standard Crown - Open

Life Span

100-150yrs

Frond Properties

Frond Colour(s) (front)

Dull, Glossy, Green, Grey-green

Dull,

Glossy,

Green,

Grey-green

Frond Colour(s) (back)

Dull, Grey-green

Dull,

Grey-green

Frond Texture (front)

Glabrous

Waxy

Glabrous,

Waxy

Frond Texture (back)

Glabrous

Waxy

Glabrous,

Waxy

Frond Length

2.25-2.5m

Frond Width

200-250mm, 250-300mm, 300-400mm, 400-500mm, 500-600mm

200-250mm,

250-300mm,

300-400mm,

400-500mm,

500-600mm

Frond Aroma

None

Frond Shapes

Pinnate / Parapinnate

Frond Arrangement

Open Crown

Whorled

Open Crown,

Whorled

Frond Attachment

Petiolate

Pinna Shape(s) (Frondlet)

Linear

Pinna Length (Frondlet)

100-150mm, 150-200mm, 200-250mm, 250-300mm

100-150mm,

150-200mm,

200-250mm,

250-300mm

Pinna Width (Frondlet)

5-10mm, 10-15mm

5-10mm,

10-15mm

Pinnae Arrangement

Even Pinnae

Spined Pinnae

Even Pinnae,

Spined Pinnae

Pinnule Apice(s) (Leaflet)

Acute Narrowly

Aristate

Acute Narrowly,

Aristate

Pinnule Base(s) (Leaflet)

Attenuate

Pinnule Margin(s) (Leaflet)

Entire

Pinnule Cross Section(s) (Leaflet)

Bi-convex

Flat

Bi-convex,

Flat

Pinnule Venation (Leaflet)

Parallel Multicostate Convergent

Petiole Length

150-200mm, 200-250mm, 250-300mm, 300-400mm, 400-500mm, 500-600mm

150-200mm,

200-250mm,

250-300mm,

300-400mm,

400-500mm,

500-600mm

Petiole Texture

Glabrous

Waxy

Glabrous,

Waxy

Petiole Feature(s)

Spines Basal

Trunk / Stem Properties

Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)

Brown Dark

Colour(s) (Base)

Brown Dark

Texture (Upper)

Rough / Scabrous

Texture (Base)

Rough / Scabrous

Cross Section

Terete

Diameter

300-350mm, 350-400mm, 400-450mm, 450-500mm, 500-600mm, 600-700mm, 700-800mm

300-350mm,

350-400mm,

400-450mm,

450-500mm,

500-600mm,

600-700mm,

700-800mm

Length

900mm-1m, 1-1.5m, 1.5-2m

900mm-1m,

1-1.5m,

1.5-2m

Features

Persistent Leaf Bases

Construction

Pith Continuous

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Male

Flowering Time (start)

Autumn Early

Flowering Time (end)

Summer Late

Flower Shape(s)

Strobilus - Male

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangements

Male Inflorescence Cone

Erect

Arrangement Size(s)

200-225mm, 425-450mm

200-225mm,

425-450mm

Pollinator(s)

Insects, Wind, Weevils

Insects,

Wind,

Weevils

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Separate Plant

Gender: Female

Colour(s)

Green-brown, Grey-brown

Green-brown,

Grey-brown

Flower Shape(s)

Megasporophyll - Female

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangements

Female Inflorescence Cone

Erect

Arrangement Size(s)

200-225mm, 425-450mm

200-225mm,

425-450mm

Pollinator(s)

Insects, Wind, Weevils

Insects,

Wind,

Weevils

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Separate Plant

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Cone Simple

Shape(s)

Oblong

Ovoid

Oblong,

Ovoid

Outer Colour(s)

Brown Dark, Grey-brown

Brown Dark,

Grey-brown

Outer Texture

Glabrous

Smooth

Waxy

Glabrous,

Smooth,

Waxy

Length

200-250mm, 250-300mm, 300-350mm, 350-400mm, 400-450mm

200-250mm,

250-300mm,

300-350mm,

350-400mm,

400-450mm

Aroma

None

Seed Properties

Type

Nut

Colour

Red, Yellow

Red,

Yellow

Shape(s)

Oblong

Ovoid

Oblong,

Ovoid

Texture(s)

Glabrous

Smooth

Waxy

Glabrous,

Smooth,

Waxy

Size

30-40mm, 40-50mm

30-40mm,

40-50mm

Seed Dispersal

Animals

Seed Number

100-150

Root Properties

Type

Collaroid Root

Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root

Collaroid Root,

Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root

Texture

Cord-like , Fibrous , Pliable

Cord-like,

Fibrous,

Pliable

Colour(s)

Brown, Brown Light, Cream Deep

Brown,

Brown Light,

Cream Deep

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Stony

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral

Condition(s)

Damp

Moist

Damp,

Moist

Fertile , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Poor

Bird Attraction

Insect

Butterfly Attraction

Moderate

Frog Habitat

None

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Low

Wood Density

Low < 600kg/c.m.

Coastal

1st Line

Edible(s)

Nuts - Eaten after processing

Fire Regeneration(s)

Seed, Regrowth

Seed,

Regrowth

Fire Retarding

Poor

Drought Tolerance

Moderate

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Smog Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

None

Indigenous Use(s)

Nuts - Eaten after processing

Landscape Use

Very Good

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Fronding

Pests/Diseases

Mealy Bug, Scale

Mealy Bug,

Scale

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Container, Fire Resistant, Floral Art, Foliage-Interesting, Fruit-decorative, Garden-Australian Native, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Formal, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rainforest, Garden-Tropical, Irritating-Leaves, Litter Issue - Nuts, Poisonous, Pond Edge, Shade Tolerant, Shady Dry, Shady Moist, Specimen, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Cockatoo's, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Parrot's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Garden-Container,

Fire Resistant,

Floral Art,

Foliage-Interesting,

Fruit-decorative,

Garden-Australian Native,

Garden-Coastal,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Foliage,

Garden-Formal,

Garden-Indoors,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Mediterranean,

Garden-Rainforest,

Garden-Tropical,

Irritating-Leaves,

Litter Issue - Nuts,

Poisonous,

Pond Edge,

Shade Tolerant,

Shady Dry,

Shady Moist,

Specimen,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant-Cockatoo's,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's,

Tolerant-Parrot's,

Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Altitude Range - Habitat

0-100m

Annual Precipitation Range

700mm, 800mm, 900mm, 1,000mm, 1,200mm

700mm,

800mm,

900mm,

1,000mm,

1,200mm

Propagation

Fresh Seed

General Notes

An Australian native macrozamia that makes a wonderful hardy, specimen plant or mass understory planting in the garden. Its common name Burrawang is derived from the aboriginal people Dharuk language. M. communis takes between 10-20 years to mature before fruiting and setting seed, requiring a male and female plant to do so. In its natural habitat it can form large understory colonies.

It has 50 -100 fronds (leaves) in the crown. The pinnae are angled forward on the rachis of 45 - 60^o and extend in a horizontal plane from the rachis. A prominent white callous is present at the join of the pinnae to the rachis. Female plants bear 1- 3 cones, male plants bear 1 - 5 cones.

The Aborigines (the Cadigal people), pounded and soaked the seeds in water for a week, changing daily, to remove the poison, then the pulp was made into cakes and roasted over hot embers as a good source of starch.

Propagation Notes

Fresh Seed

Flowering

Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Seed Collecting

Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Sowing

Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Material Preparation

The seed takes 6 - 9 mths to ripen. Pick the fruit when it is very red, off the plant. Peel off the outer flesh or if too hard, soak the seeds in warm water for 48 - 72 hours to loosen the outer flesh. Change the water daily. Discard any seeds that float to the top, keep the ones that sink. Floating seeds won't germinate as they lack an endosperm. Using gloves, so your hands don't turn orange, wash the seeds thoroughly with Solvol soap to remove any remaining pulp. Allow to dry. Store in a cool, dark place. It is best to sow the seed as soon as possible for best results.

Viability:- 6 - 12 months

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

1 part Cocopeat + 1 part Perlite

Treatment

If the seed has been stored for awhile, soak in a bowl or bucket of water overnight to soften the outer coat. Fill Forestry or P2 Tubes or 100mm pots or 150mm deep seedling trays, then press the seeds 2/3 of the way into the mix, till just the flat side is above the mix surface, water in well with Previcur fungicide mix. Place in hothouse. Maintain hothouse environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light.

In warmer climates, place outside in a shade house and keep moist but not too wet.

Viable seeds/gram:- (90% germination rate on fresh picked seed)

Germination time:- 4 - 24 months

Pricking out:- 2 - 3 months after germination

Pot Mix:- Premium Potting Soil