Family: Zamiaceae
Group: Gymnosperm
Substrate:
Terrestrial
Habit:
Herb
Perennation:
Perennial
Native Range: Southeastern United States (southeastern Georgia and Florida); Bahamas, Cuba, and Cayman Islands.
State of Florida Status:
Commercially Exploited
IRC SOUTH FLORIDA Status:
Rare
Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida
SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence:
Present
SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status:
Native
South Florida History and Distribution: This is widespread in South Florida growing a wide variety of habitats, most of which have been subjected to continuous habitat loss and fragmentation outside of Everglades National Park; it was also widely harvested in the 20th century. Using modern NatureServe criteria, we re-ranked this as Rare in South Florida in July 2018.
SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status:
Cultivated
Comments: Although some authors place this into synonymy under Z. pumila, we follow the taxonomy of the
World List of Cycads.
Also visit our
Natives For Your Neighborhood website for more information and images on Z. integrifolia in South Florida. See also a 2022 post on the
Treasure Coast Natives blog on the history, pollination and uses of Coontie.
Synonyms:
Z. pumila, misapplied.
FLORIDA KEYS Occurrence:
Present
FLORIDA KEYS Native Status:
Presumed Extirpated
IRC FLORIDA KEYS Status:
Presumed Extirpated
Map of select IRC data for the Florida Keys
Florida Keys History and Distribution: Reported in
1913 by John Kunkel Small for pinelands in the lower Keys. Also collected in 1973 on "Marathon Key" (Vaca Key) by Lakela & Almeda (32203, USF) and reported for Key Largo by Alexander (1973). We consider this native and presumed extirpated from the upper Keys to the lower Keys. Herbarium searches for older specimens are needed.
