Gondwanaland Trading Company
From the Ends of the Earth, to the Beginning of Time!

Mexican Cycad

(Zamia furfuracea)
Zamia furfuracea

We were driving (a bit too fast) to the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve in Veracruz State Eastern Mexico, when we saw a 5’ long Iguana laying in the middle of the road. We slammed on the brakes and felt a bump like we rolled over a log as we went skidding. We piled out of the VW and saw the huge Iguana just laying in the road. It was not moving but otherwise looked OK. One of our group decided to pose for pictures so he picks up the beast by the tail and holds it up for a photo. As all of our cameras focus he  slides the Iguana into his shirt egging for the camera. We howled with laughter as we fully documented the exact moment he realized that the Iguana had regained consciousness as it started whipping its tail and scratching wildly inside his shirt! As it shoots out the bottom of his shirt he is screaming bloody murder! Man that was great! On that trip we saw Zamia furfuracea, which is a stunningly beautiful cycad native to the area. Although not a palm tree (Arecaceae), its growth habit resembles a palm; therefore it is commonly known as "Cardboard Palm" but the alternate name Cardboard Cycad is more accurate. Other names include Mexican Cycad. The plant has a short, sometimes subterranean trunk up to 20 cm broad and high, usually marked with scars from old leaf bases. It grows very slowly when young, but its growth accelerates after the trunk matures. Including the leaves, the whole plant typically grows to 1.3 m tall with a width of about 2 m. We offer this highly collectable plant in two sizes: Nice sized plants measuring approximately 1’x1’ in a 5 gallon container, and a massive 20 gallon specimen with a trunk base measuring 20” wide, by 2’ tall which is 30 years old.

Mexican Cycad

Mexican Cycad

$54.99