Zamioculcas zamiifolia (Lodd.) Engl.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Nhandar River below Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa.

Photo: Stefaan Dondeyne
Slopes of Mt Chinhaunguri, Moribane.

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Synonyms:	Caladium zamiifolium Lodd. Zamioculcas lanceolata Peter Zamioculcas loddigesii Schott
Common names:	Fern arum (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Perennial herb growing from a woody tuber. Leaves up to 80 cm long including the petiole, paripinnate with up to 8 pairs of subopposite leaflets. Leaflets obovate-elliptic, up to 15 cm long, somewhat fleshy, dark glossy green, shortly acuminate at the apex; margin entire. Inflorescences on a thick peduncle 3-20 cm long, erect in flower but strongly recurving in fruit. Spathe 5-8 cm long, ovate, reflexed, leathery, greenish; spadix 5-7 cm long, somewhat constricted below the middle, creamy-white to yellowish. Fruit a white berry, c. 1.2 cm in diameter, held by the persistent tepals.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	zamiifolia: leaves like a Cycad of the genus Zamia (Zamiaceae).
Habitat:	In shade in evergreen forest or dense miombo woodland.
Altitude range:	Up to 650 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Mozambique distribution:	MS,GI,M
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Monday 27 August 2012
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 59. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 119. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 162. Haigh, A. & Boyce, P. (2012). Araceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(1) Pages 22 - 24. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 85. Mayo, S.J. (1985). Araceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 15 - 17. (Includes a picture). Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 506 - 507. (Includes a picture). Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 23.

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Flora of Malawi: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Flora of Zimbabwe: Zamioculcas zamiifolia

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African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Zamioculcas zamiifolia
African Plant Database: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Zamioculcas zamiifolia
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GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Zamioculcas zamiifolia
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IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Zamioculcas zamiifolia
JSTOR Plant Science: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Plants of the World Online: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
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Wikipedia: Zamioculcas zamiifolia