Cycadophyta

Zamiaceae

Macrozamia Miq.

Burrawang

42 species endemic AUST.; Qld, N.S.W., W.A., N.T.

Dioecious perennials with a stout fleshy stem which only rarely appears above the ground in local species. Leaves pinnately compound; pinnae linear, coriaceous. Male (pollen or microsprore) cones and female (ovulate or megaspore) cones borne severally on each plant at intervals of 2 or more years. Male cones with numerous spirally arranged imbricate microsporophylls each with numerous pollen sacs (microsporangia) on the undersurface. Female cones with much larger and fewer megasporopylls each with 2 ovules. After pollination, but before fertilization, the ovules enlarge and become red or orange or more rarely yellow. The cones fall to pieces while the embryo is immature and the seeds ripen slowly on the ground.