Origin and Habitat: Cuba (Isle of Pines off of the southwestern coast and east of Havana) and the Dominican Republic (now extinct in southern Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and Haiti). Population numbers estimated to be several thousand, probably 5.000-10.000. The number of subpopulations is uncertain.
Habitat: It grows in the beach under coconut palms (Cocos nuciferaSN|24379]]SN|24379]]) or away from the shore line but very near to the coast on well-drained sands or sandy loam soils. During bad storms, the salt water had to be washing over them.
Ecology: Like other cycads, Pollination is by certain insects, namely the belid weevil Rhopalotria slossoni. It seems that during hurricanes, seeds get washed out to sea and sometimes end up on other islands.

• Zamia pumila L.
• Encephalartos pumilus (L.) Sweet
• Palmifolium pumilum (L.) Kuntze

• Zamia pumila L.
• Encephalartos pumilus (L.) Sweet
• Palmifolium pumilum (L.) Kuntze
• Zamia allison-armourii Millsp.
• Zamia concinna Regel
• Zamia cylindrica Regel
• Zamia debilis L.f.
• Palmifolium debile (L.f.) Kuntze
• Zamia dentata Voigt
• Zamia humilis Salisb.
• Zamia laeta Salisb.
• Zamia latifoliolata Prenlel.
• Zamia media var. commeliniana J.Schust.
• Zamia portoricensis Urb.
• Zamia gutierrezii var. portoricensis (Urb.) J.Schust.
• Zamia media var. portoricensis (Urb.) J.Schust.

Description: Zamia pumilaSN|23857]]SN|23857]] is a small clumping, tough, woody cycad. It is similar in many respects to Zamia furfuraceaSN|23863]]SN|23844]], but with slightly narrower leaflets, and to Zamia integrifoliaSN|23857]]SN|23863]].
Stem: 3–25 cm high and diameter, but is often subterranean and tuberous. At first solitary, but over time it will divide dichotomously or branch from the side forming a multi-branched cluster, with a large, tuberous root system, which is actually an extension of the above-ground stems.
Crown: Leaves 2-15 in terminal rosettes up to 2 m in diameter. The leaflets with distinct apical teeth serve to distinguish Zamia pumilaSN|23863]]SN|23857]] from Zamia integrifoliaSN|23844]]SN|23863]].
Cataphylls 1-2 cm long, sheathing at first, with a pair of inconspicuous stipules.
Leaves: 1-pinnately compound, somewhat palm-like, 60–120 cm long, evergreen, upright, herbaceous, rachis smooth, bearing 10-30 pairs of leaflets (pinnae). Each leaflet is linear to lanceolate or oblong-obovate to somewhat rounded apically, median ones 8–25 cm long and 0,5–2 cm broad, often deeply cleft, with 10-15 distinct teeth in upper fourth. They are often revolute; petioles with stipules and smooth.
Flowers (cones): Zamia pumilaSN|23857]]SN|23857]] is dioecious, having male or female cones that emerge from the centre of the apex of the trunk. Male cones (pollen bearing) 1-30-clustered, pedunculate, dark reddish brown, cylindrical to ovoid-cylindrical, apex acute, growing to 3–15 cm long and 8-20 mm in diameter. Female cones (seed bearing) solitary or up to 5-clustered, pedunculate, dark reddish brown, elongate-ovoid with a distinct acuminate tip 6–15 cm long and 4–6 cm in diameter.
Seeds: Red to orange-red, ovoid, 1-2 cm long.

Notes: Zamia pumilaSN|23857]]SN|23857]] was the first species described for the genus and hence is the type species for the genus Zamia and the family Zamiaceae. Historically there has been much confusion as to the identity of this species and as consequent there are numerous synonyms and redescriptions in the older literature. At one extreme some authors included all these plants in a single broadly defined species, Zamia pumilaSN|23863]]SN|23857]], while other botanists have recognized several more narrowly defined species. The Flora of North America treats the American plants as Zamia integrifoliaSN|23857]]SN|23863]] which is native to Florida and differs in the smaller, more commonly entire (untoothed or only slightly so) leaves usually less than 25 cm long than the true Zamia pumila from the Carribbean islands, although some references continue to refer to these populations as Zamia pumilaSN|23857]]SN|23857]].

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Forest & Kim Starr Zamia pumila (Coontie). Plants of Hawaii. <http://www.starrenvironmental.com>. Downloaded on 22 September 2014.
2) Whitelock, Loran M. “The Cycads.” Timber press 2002
3) Stevenson, D.W. 2010. Zamia pumila. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 September 2014.
4) Haynes J.L, "World List of Cycads: A Historical Review" IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group, 2011
5) Wikipedia contributors. "Zamia pumila." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 15 Mar. 2013. Web. 22 Sep. 2014.
6) Terrence Walters, Roy Osborne “Cycad Classification: Concepts and Recommendations“ CABI, 12/Jan/2004
7) Zamia pumila PACSOA Palms and Cycads wiki , <http://www.pacsoa.org.au> Accessed on 22 Sep. 2014
8) K.U. Kramer, Klaus Kubitzki, P.S. Green “Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms” Springer Science & Business Media, 28/Sep/1990

Cultivation and Propagation: Zamia pumilaSN|23857]]SN|23857]] is easy to grow and a very popular plant in cultivation. Because of its ruggedness, low maintenance and drought tolerance it is commonly grown in tropical and subtropical regions. This species is rather fast and in good conditions can speed it up considerably and could go from seed to coning size plants in 3-4 years. This plant may be cultivated as an indoor plant in temperate countries.
Exposition: It prefers filtered sunlight to partial shade as colour bleaches when in full sun; best with some protection from afternoon heat but not in constant deep shade. Generally speaking the plants that are in a situation under shrubs are more vigorous.
Soil: Needs a well drained sandy or sandy loam spot, with deep soil, neutral or basic (tolerate limestone) but will still thrive in less than ideal conditions. Mulch with organic materials (bark or leaf mould).
Moisture: Water when dry. Drought tolerant.
Fertilization. Because of its growth habit, fertilize only when terminal bud begins to swell, indicating the start of the annual growth cycle.
Hardiness: It should be protected from extreme cold. (USDA Zones 9-11) Sustains leaf damage at -2° C.
Salt aerosol tolerance: It is salt resistant and is even happy living out on seaside condominium balconies.
Maintenance: Minimal; removal of offsets if desired, removal of spent fronds
Use: Landscape as cultivated perennial in warm, coastal areas, it makes a great accent or specimen plant and can be used in beachside plantings. Several can be planted together for a lush, tropical effect. Plant on three to five-foot-centers to create a mass planting. Use near the patio, in mixed foundation plantings or in perennial beds. It is a spectacular house-plant or interior-scape specimen in cool areas tough enough to survive occasional neglect and harsh indoor environments. It is very well suited to bonsai culture.
Warning: This plant is poisonous, producing a toxin called cycasin that affects the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system. Poisonous Parts: Fleshy seeds, stems, roots, leaves. Protect pets and instruct children to never eat or chew any plant material without permission.
Edibility: Processed flour, toxic if large quantities eaten. The stems and half-buried stems are edible and were used by Native American people for their yield of a starch, but only after removing the toxin by careful leaching. The original inhabitants of Hispaniola (Taino Indians) used the plants for food. They ground the tubers and made a paste out of them, which they wrapped in leaves, and then let them sit for several days until they turned black and got worms in them. Then they made tortillas out of them, worms and all.
Propagation: Seeds. The germination process is slow and difficult to achieve in cultivation, after fertile seeds are collected, they usually need several months of storage before the inner embryo is ready to germinate. Therefore, it is best to clean the seeds of external fruit and set them aside before attempting to propagate the seeds. Seeds should be sown in shallow container, lightly covered with sand, and after germination, potted off in small pots of moderately rich, light soil. The growing plants do best in partial shade. The old plants frequently send up suckers around the base of the trunk. These may be taken off when in a dormant state and rooted, care being taken to remove the leaves to guard against excessive transpiration. The advantage of the "pups" is that you will know its sex, for seedlings you will have to wait several years until the plant flowers to find out.