Zamia pseudoparasitica
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| Zamia pseudoparasitica | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Cycadophyta |
| Class: | Cycadopsida |
| Order: | Cycadales |
| Family: | Zamiaceae |
| Genus: | Zamia |
| Species: | Z. pseudoparasitica |
| Binomial name | |
| Zamia pseudoparasitica J.Yates | |
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| Zamia pseudoparasitica is endemic to Panama[3] | |
| Synonyms[4][3] | |
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Zamia pseudoparasitica is a species of plant in the family Zamiaceae. It is endemic to Panama.
Description
Zamia pseudoparasitica is the only known species of Zamia that is epiphytic.[9] Furthermore, it is the only known obligate epiphytic gymnosperm.[10] growing on the branches of forest trees. It has a very short trunk but long leaves over 3 m long. The seeds are orange.
The root system can be very long and may reach and root in the ground in some cases. Taproots of 15 m in length have been documented.[11]
Cytology
Ecology
Pollination
The beetle Notorhopalotria taylori appears to be the main pollinator of Zamia pseudoparasitica.[10] The beetle lives in the male cones of Zamia pseudoparasitica.[14]
Seed dispersal
The seeds are thought to be disseminated by northern olingo,[9][15]Toucans,[9] or potentially by fruit-eating bats.[10]
Conservation
Primary forest is an important habitat for this species, as it has been unable to re-colonize secondary forests within a timeframe of 50 years.[10]
