Zamia furfuracea (Cardboard Palm)

Zamia furfuracea is a cycad endemic to southeastern Veracruz state in eastern Mexico. The plant has a short, sometimes subterranean trunk up to 20cm cross 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 1.3m tall with a width of about 2m. Indoors, they grow to about 1m tall and 1m across when mature.

This plant is highly sought after and excellent for indoor pots. Moist well-drained soil is required.

All parts of the plant contain Cycasin and an unknown nervous system toxin which are poisonous to animals, including humans. The seeds are poisonous enough to kill small mammals such as dogs and cats, and cause liver and kidney failure, as well as eventual paralysis in humans. Dehydration sets in very quickly. No treatment for the poisoning is currently known.