Yay, finally matched this find to its proper name, thanks to the kind, learned folks at palmtalk.org.
A native of Northern Mexico, it's has a common name Chamalilo (Small Chamal or Dwarf)
The recently transplanted cycad fills the space, its new home, beside the Bottle Palm. It has small elongated , dark green leaves with small irregular edges. The leaves are paired symmetrically.
Actually, it looks very much like a fern! Unlike the fern, this one bears cones and the crown of leaves arising from the head of the cycad, it's no mistaking it for the former.
I can probably understand why it is often confused with Zamia fischerii - its difference not discernible to the untrained eyes i.e. longer leaves with serrated edges, more pairs of leaflets, often developing multiple stems when mature and minute prickles on petioles (need a magnifying glass!)
The leaves have a papery feel though less thick than the Cardboard Palm.
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| newly transplanted |
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| young leaves in bronze |
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| stems from the cycad |
This plant will bear cones and the female cones when ripen exposes striking bright red seeds.
