''Macrozamia mountperriensis'' is a species of

plant Plants are the eukaryotes that form the Kingdom (biology), kingdom Plantae; they are predominantly Photosynthesis, photosynthetic. This means that they obtain their energy from sunlight, using chloroplasts derived from endosymbiosis with c ...

in the family

Zamiaceae The Zamiaceae are a family of cycads that are superficially palm or fern-like. They are divided into two subfamilies with eight genera and about 150 species in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Australia and North and South America. ...

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to the area around Mount Perry in

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

; however, it is not considered threatened due to its large population in the area. The species was discovered by colonial botanists including

Frederick Manson Bailey Frederick Manson Bailey (8 March 1827 – 25 June 1915) was a botanist active in Australia, who made valuable contributions to the characterisation of the flora of Queensland. He was known by his middle name, Manson. Early life Bailey was bo ...

and

James Keys James Keys (19 June 1841 – 26 January 1916) was a school teacher and pioneering 19th century Queensland botanist who was globally recognised for the diverse collections of plant specimens which he assembled from locations of floristic significanc ...

in the late 1800s. All members of the Zamiaceae family are considered to be poisonous.

Description

''Macrozamia mountperriensis'' is distinguished from related species by its small stature and light green leaves. Leaves are

pinnate Pinnation (also called pennation) is the arrangement of feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis. Pinnation occurs in biological morphology, in crystals, such as some forms of ice or metal crystals, and ...

with 50 to 110 leaflets. The stems range between in height, and the leaves are around long on average. Leaflets are straight, approximately 5-9 mm wid.e Leaves vary in colour depending on age: leaves are lighter green with yellow undertones, whilst the mature leaves are darker. The plant is also distinguishable by cylinder cones growing from the root of the plant. Male cones are long and around in diameter. Female cones are inches long and have and in diameter. The cones have of small green and orange spots that distinguish ''Macrozamia mountperriensis'' from other plants in the Zamiaceae family. The seeds are approximately 25 mm long and 16 mm wide and are orange and yellow. ''Macrozamia mountperriensis'' is very similar to '' Macrozamia miquelii'', but it can be distinguished by its longer petioles, smaller cones and seeds. The plant also is known to contain

symbiotic Symbiosis (Ancient Greek : living with, companionship < : together; and ''bíōsis'': living) is any type of a close and long-term biolo ...

cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria ( ) are a group of autotrophic gram-negative bacteria that can obtain biological energy via oxygenic photosynthesis. The name "cyanobacteria" () refers to their bluish green (cyan) color, which forms the basis of cyanobacteri ...

and can be toxic. Insects, including those in the order

Coleoptera Beetles are insects that form the Taxonomic rank, order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 40 ...

, provide pollination to the plant. File:Macrozamia mountperriensis leaves (male).jpg, Leaves of male plant File:Macrozamia mountperriensis cones (male).jpg, Cones of male plant File:Macrozamia mountperriensis cones (female).jpg, Cones of female plant File:Comprehensive catalogue of Queensland plants, both indigenous and naturalised. To which are added, where known, the aboriginal and other vernacular names; with numerous illustrations, and copious (14596402348).jpg, Female Plant

Taxonomy and naming

''Macrozamia mountperriensis'' was first formally described in 1886 by

in the supplement to ''A Synopsis of the Queensland Flora'' from specimens collected on Mount Perry. ''Macrozamia mountperriensis'' name is derived from its discovery in Mount Perry, Queensland.

Distribution and habitat

''Macrozamia mountperriensis'' grows in the Mount Perry region west of

Bundaberg Bundaberg () is the major regional city in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of the state of Queensland, Australia. It is the List of cities in Australia by population, ninth largest city in the state. The Bundaberg central business district is situa ...

. A number of plants from the macrozamia genus are common in this region and are found close to the town of Mount Perry. Other species of plants in the genus Macrozamia are endemic to other Australian states, including New South Wales and the Northern Territory. Other plants within the Zamiacae family are located in tropical regions such as North America, South America and Africa. The plant thrives in dry and warm conditions and habitat in temperatures above minus 6 degrees celsius. It typically grows in altitudes between two hundred and four hundred metres on slopes and ranges. ''Macrozamia mountperriensis'' is typically found in open forest conditions such as eucalypt forests or the Araucarian rainforest. The plant is also distributed in the townships of Brooweena,

Biggenden Biggenden is a rural town and Suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Biggenden had a population of 788 people. Geography Biggenden is on the Isis Highway north ...

and Aramara, which are near Mount Perry. ''Macrozamia mountperriensis'' shedding of pollen begins in later months of the year typically October and November. The plant's seeds shed in the months around Spring.

Origins and history

It was first discovered by Colonial Botanist

and

in 1886 whilst researching and surveying Queensland’s flora.

published “A synopsis on Queensland Flora’ in 1886 which first made light of ''Macrozamia mountperriensis'', including an in-depth description of the plant, including details of its distribution in the Mount Perry Region. Botanist James Keys lived in the Mount Perry region researching the flora, and led to the discovery of ''Macrozamia mountperriensis''. Dutch botanist Friedrich Anton Miquel first made mention of the Macrozamia genus in 1842, but not specifying which species of Macrozamia.

Conservation status

''Macrozamia mountperriensis'' is not at risk of extinction. The plant is classified as not to be at risk. It has strong habitat across a number of forests in the Mount Perry region in Queensland. ''Macrozamia mountperriensis'' has multiple colonies, strong seedling and is present in many national parks. ''Macrozamia mountperriensis'' is not on the IUCN Red List category which is the official assessment system to classify and determine at-risk plants or organisms.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5402577 mountperriensis Flora of Queensland Cycadophyta of Australia Endemic flora of Australia Least concern flora of Australia Least concern biota of Queensland Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Plants described in 1886 Taxa named by Frederick Manson Bailey