Coontie

Title

Coontie

Authors

Ethan H. Freid

Scientific Name

Zamia pumila L.

Description

Common Names

Coontie, Bay Rush

Zamiaceae

Zamia pumila grows from an underground vertical stem 15-40 in length and to 15 cm in diameter. Leaves are produced from the top of the tuber. The leaves are pinnately compound, to 1 meter in length and covered with rusty brown hairs when young. The leaflets are to 25 cm (typically shorter) in length with a slightly toothed apex and an entire margin (occasionally irregular).

The dioecious reproductive structures are cones. Microsporangiate cones are solitary or in groups, to 8 cm in length and 2 cm in diameter. There are 15 - 20 series of peltate hexagonal structures underneath which are the microsporagium.

The megasporangiate cones are solitary, to 20 cm in length and 6 cm in diameter. There are 5-8 series of peltate hexagonal structures underneath each where the ovules are located. The entire structure is covered with reddish hairs.

Zamia pumila grows in Pine Woodlands as well as coastal Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formations-Shrublands.

Zamia pumila occurs in the central and north island groupings of the Bahamian Archipelago.

There is a subspecies that is endemic to the Bahamas.

Zamia pumila stems have been collected and used as a food source but are not used medicinally in the Bahamas.

Zamia pumila is used in the horticultural industry.