Zamia acuminata

Zamia acuminata is a small cycad from Costa Rica, known from the humid forests of the central Pacific slope, in the province of San José. This species of the genus Zamia was described in 1884 from a single leaf and remained misunderstood for more than a century: its name was long applied to plants from Panama that are now placed in Zamia nana, and many plants sold or labelled as Zamia acuminata before 2013 belong to that species. It is rated Vulnerable by the IUCN.

Key facts about Zamia acuminata

  • Accepted name: Zamia acuminata Oerst. ex Dyer (1884), accepted by The World List of Cycads (version 2026.08.15) and by GBIF; POWO could not be consulted directly
  • Former names and synonyms: no synonym; the plants from El Valle de Antón (Panama), long grown and published under this name, were described in 2013 as Zamia nana
  • Family: Zamiaceae, order Cycadales
  • Common names: no name attested, in English or in Spanish
  • Natural range: Costa Rica, central Pacific slope (province of San José; collections also reported from the province of Puntarenas)
  • IUCN status: Vulnerable (VU), criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v), assessment published in 2022
  • CITES and other protection: CITES Appendix II (whole genus, since 1977; seeds exempt under annotation #4); Annex B in the European Union
  • Documented hardiness: no data (see Cold hardiness)
  • Light and soil: in the wild, the understorey of humid to very humid forests between 100 and 1,200 m, often on rocky soils on steep slopes; no cultivation data
  • Habit and adult size: globose to cylindrical stem, underground or up to 30 cm tall and 5 cm in diameter; fewer than 8 leaves, 50 to 130 cm long
  • In the UK, US and Australia: two accessions (2010 and 2018) at Montgomery Botanical Center (Florida); declared to BGCI by several American gardens and by the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Cairns; no British record; the identity of older plants grown under this name is uncertain
  • Toxicity: no data specific to the species; treat it as poisonous, like all cycads (see Toxicity and precautions)

How to recognise Zamia acuminata

The feature that gave the species its name is the very long, drawn-out tip of the leaflets: in Costa Rican plants it makes up more than a quarter of the leaflet’s length. The most detailed description of wild plants is the one in Rafael Acuña-Castillo’s revision of the Zamia of Costa Rica (2010):

  • Stem: short, globose to cylindrical, underground or up to 30 cm tall and 5 cm in diameter, with whitish, rough bark.
  • Leaves: fewer than eight per plant, 50 to 130 cm long; petiole (20 to 75 cm) and rachis (30 to 90 cm) armed with prickles.
  • Leaflets: 8 to 16 pairs per leaf, lanceolate to sickle-shaped, smooth and glossy, with an entire margin, 18 to 30 cm long and 2.5 to 5 cm wide, ending in the long, tapering tip.
  • Female cone: cylindrical, on a stalk (peduncle) of about 7 cm, ending in a sharp sterile tip more than 1.5 cm long.
  • Mature cones and seeds: not described; reproductive material kept in herbaria remains very scarce.

The original Latin description, reproduced and translated by Lindström and colleagues (2013), is limited to the leaf: opposite-pinnate leaves; a sparsely prickly, three-angled, hairless petiole; up to 8 leaflets on each side, sickle-shaped and lanceolate, drawn out into a long tail towards the tip, strongly narrowed at the base, entire, thin, with about 30 veins, 10 to 11 inches long (about 25 to 28 cm) and 1½ to 1¾ inches wide (about 3.8 to 4.4 cm). The conversion of the old units is approximate.

Hybrids

No natural or garden hybrid has been documented.

Possible confusion

With this species, the name has caused more confusion than the plant itself:

  • Zamia nana, from the crater of El Valle de Antón (province of Coclé, Panama), was published and distributed as Zamia acuminata until 2013. Its leaflets have a similar shape, but the plant is much smaller; the two populations are about 400 km apart, and the Panamanian female cones lack the sharp sterile tip of the Costa Rican plants.
  • Zamia fairchildiana, from the southern Pacific slope of Costa Rica: some herbarium specimens of Zamia acuminata had been wrongly identified under this name (Lindström and colleagues, 2013). Its leaflets are strongly asymmetric and finely toothed near the tip, which is short.
  • In the trade, plants sold as “Zamia acuminata” have turned out to be Mexican Zamia vazquezii or Zamia fischeri, with small obovate leaflets: in 2009 and 2010, members of the French forum Fous de palmiers reported such batches, which had come from Thailand through an auction website.

Taxonomy

The name was published in 1884 by the British botanist William Thiselton-Dyer in the Biologia Centrali-Americana, from a single sterile leaf collected by the Danish botanist Anders Sandøe Ørsted (1816–1872), probably between 1846 and 1848, when he travelled in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The specimen, the holotype, is kept at the Natural History Museum of Denmark (C); it has no collection number, no date and no description of the plant or its habitat. Its label reads “ad flumen S. Juan Nicaragua”, which points to the Río San Juan on the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. No other collection is known from that region, and The World List of Cycads considers this locality a probable error.

In 2013 Anders Lindström, Michael Calonje, Dennis Stevenson, Chad Husby and Alberto Taylor published a clarification of the species in Phytotaxa. They found recent collections from the province of San José identical to the holotype and regard Zamia acuminata as a Costa Rican endemic, restricted to the western part of the Talamanca range. The plants from El Valle de Antón in Panama, which had been referred to this species until then, were described as a new species, Zamia nana. A news item published by Montgomery Botanical Center (Bramblett, 2013) explains how the puzzle was solved: the Latin wording of Ørsted’s label can be read as “at” or “towards” the river, and Michael Calonje, after reconstructing Ørsted’s 1846 route from his 1863 travel account, concluded that the specimen matched plants from the western Sierra de Talamanca, nearly 100 km south of the Río San Juan but close to the route Ørsted followed to reach it.

What this means for the reader: books, labels and catalogues earlier than 2013 that place Zamia acuminata in Panama or Nicaragua are talking about another plant. Acuña-Castillo’s revision of 2010 had already reached the same conclusion, that the Panamanian populations match neither the type nor the original description. It gives a slightly wider range than The World List of Cycads, with collections in the province of Puntarenas, between the basins of the Tárcoles and Parrita rivers; The World List of Cycads cites only the province of San José.

The name also appears in older molecular work. According to Taylor and colleagues (2008), Caputo and colleagues (2004) grouped Zamia neurophyllidia, Zamia skinneri, Zamia acuminata and Zamia obliqua in a “pseudoparasitica clade” with Zamia pseudoparasitica. As this work predates the 2013 clarification, when the name was still applied to Panamanian plants, the published sources do not show which species was actually sampled. The transcriptome study of Lindstrom and colleagues (2024) included a plant from the province of San José, kept as a voucher at the Singapore herbarium (SING), but its text does not discuss the position of the species.

Etymology and history

The epithet comes from the Latin acuminatus, “ending in a drawn-out point”, and refers to the shape of the leaflet tips. The history of the species is mostly the story of a misunderstanding: described from a single sterile leaf, without cones or stem and perhaps with a wrong locality, it was for decades attributed to plants that did not belong to it. Michael Calonje summed up the consequence in 2013: Zamia nana “has been well-known in cultivation and botanical garden collections for decades under the misapplied name Zamia acuminata, whereas the true Zamia acuminata from Costa Rica has remained poorly known” (Bramblett, 2013).

Common names

No vernacular name specific to the species is attested, in English or in Spanish; the scientific name is used.

In the wild

According to Acuña-Castillo’s revision (2010), the species grows in humid to very humid tropical forests and in humid to wet premontane forests on the central Pacific side of Costa Rica, between 100 and 1,200 m, often on rocky soils and steep slopes. It has been collected in the regions of Puriscal-Los Santos, Turrubares and Tárcoles-Térraba, where it can be locally common. It is found in particular in the El Rodeo protected zone, in La Cangreja National Park and on the foothills of the Turrubares hills, in primary forest but also in old secondary forest.

Its biology is almost unknown: cones have been seen in March, October and November, but neither pollinators nor seed dispersers are documented, and no germination data have been published.

Conservation status and regulation

Zamia acuminata is rated Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, in the 2022 assessment by Dennis Stevenson and Michael Calonje, under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v): a small range and area of occupancy, with a decline in habitat quality and in the number of mature individuals (The World List of Cycads; GBIF gives the same category; the Red List itself could not be consulted).

Like all Zamia except Zamia restrepoi, Zamia acuminata falls under CITES Appendix II, where the genus has been listed since 4 February 1977. International trade in the plants is therefore allowed, but requires an export permit issued by the country of origin. The listing carries annotation #4: seeds, pollen, seedlings and tissue cultures obtained in vitro and transported in sterile containers are not covered by CITES. In the European Union the species falls under Annex B of Regulation (EC) No 338/97, whose current list is set by Regulation (EU) 2026/1383, applicable since 29 June 2026.

Species+ has no separate entry for this species: it is covered by the listing “Zamia spp.” (CITES and EU status checked on Species+ on 3 October 2026). This general information does not replace the official texts: check the regulations in force before buying or exchanging plants, and ask the seller for proof of origin, which matters all the more here since many plants sold under this name are not the Costa Rican species.

Growing Zamia acuminata

No published growing guide exists for Zamia acuminata in the strict sense, from botanic gardens or from private growers. A large share of the plants sold under this name before 2013 were in fact Panamanian Zamia nana, or even Mexican species, so any purchase should come with a precise provenance (Costa Rica, province of San José). Without growing reports, one can only recall the conditions of the habitat: the understorey of humid forests, between 100 and 1,200 m, on rocky, well-drained soils.

Outdoor and in-ground cultivation

No outdoor cultivation outside the tropics has been documented. Planting out can only be considered in a frost-free, humid tropical climate close to that of its habitat; this is a deduction from the habitat, not a tested result.

Container cultivation

No container trial has been published for the species. By analogy with its habitat, a pot plant would need shade or filtered light, warmth all year and a free-draining, stony compost that is never left soaking; for general advice on growing forest Zamia, see the genus page. In cool climates this means a heated glasshouse or a bright, warm room.

In cultivation in the UK, US and Australia

In short: held by a few American and Australian collections, but older plants grown under this name may well be Zamia nana.

  • United States: Montgomery Botanical Center (Coral Gables, Florida) lists two accessions in its online catalogue, numbered 20100731 and 20180311 (that is, received in 2010 and 2018); the catalogue page does not give their origin. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (Miami) lists the species in its online catalogue (consulted in October 2026). Fairchild, Montgomery, the Huntington (San Marino, California), San Diego Botanic Garden (Encinitas, California), the Botanical Garden of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, a hotel garden on Lāna‘i (Hawaii) and the US National Plant Germplasm System also declare it to BGCI (queried on 24 October 2026).
  • Australia: the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney lists it in its online catalogue and in BGCI; Cairns Botanic Gardens declares it to BGCI.
  • United Kingdom: no record in BGCI or in the online catalogues of British gardens (Edinburgh, Cambridge, Chelsea Physic Garden).

A BGCI declaration shows that a garden held the plant at some point, not that it is alive today, and the sources do not say whether these plants are grown under glass. Since the true Costa Rican species was poorly known in collections before 2013 (Bramblett, 2013), any plant acquired earlier and labelled Zamia acuminata may be Zamia nana.

Propagation

No data specific to the species. Like all Zamia, it has separate male and female plants: propagation means sowing fertilised seed from cultivated plants. Seeds are exempt from CITES under annotation #4, but they must come from plants of legal origin.

Pests and diseases

No pest has been documented on this species. Caterpillars of Eumaeus butterflies, which feed on Zamia throughout Central America, are recorded on other Costa Rican species. In cultivation, scale insects are, as in all cycads, the commonest pest.

Cold hardiness

There are no data on the tolerance of Zamia acuminata to cold, heat or drought. Its habitat is tropical, humid and frost-free.

Mediterranean and European experience

No in-ground cultivation has been reported in France, and no dated frost episode concerns the species. The only posts on the French forum Fous de palmiers that mention it concern misidentified plants (in fact Zamia vazquezii, 2009–2010) or Zamia nana from Panama: none of them can be used. The Jardin zoologique tropical at La Londe-les-Maures, in the Var, has published no observation of this species. Even in a Mediterranean climate, it should be treated as a plant for a warm glasshouse.

United Kingdom, United States and Australia

No cold record has been published for the species. The gardens that hold it in Florida, California, Hawaii and Australia do not say how it is grown or how it reacts to cool weather.

Toxicity and precautions

No toxicity study specific to Zamia acuminata has been published. The risk is, however, documented in the genus and in other cycads: Zamia contain toxic glycosides (cycasin, macrozamin), from which methylazoxymethanol is derived, and for Zamia furfuracea the ASPCA cites cycasin and BMAA, a neurotoxic amino acid, with vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and liver damage in dogs, cats and horses; the seeds are the most dangerous part. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, treat the plant as poisonous: keep seeds and leaves out of reach of children and animals, and wear gloves to clean seeds. If any part is swallowed, contact a poison centre, a doctor or a vet straight away.

Traditional uses

No use has been documented.

Frequently asked questions

Does Zamia acuminata grow in Panama?

No, according to the work published since 2013. The plants from El Valle de Antón in Panama, long called by this name, are Zamia nana; Zamia acuminata is regarded as endemic to Costa Rica.

Why “acuminata”?

From the Latin acuminatus, “ending in a drawn-out point”: the tip of the leaflets is very long, more than a quarter of the leaflet.

Is the Zamia acuminata I bought the real one?

Not necessarily. Batches sold under this name have turned out to be Mexican Zamia vazquezii or Zamia fischeri, or Zamia nana from Panama. Only a documented Costa Rican provenance can settle the question.

Why was the species so poorly known?

Because it was described from a single sterile leaf with a doubtful locality. According to Montgomery Botanical Center, Michael Calonje solved the problem by retracing Ørsted’s route and comparing the type with recent collections from the western Talamanca range.

Is it endangered?

Yes. It is rated Vulnerable by the IUCN (2022 assessment), because of its small range and the decline of its habitat.

Can I grow it outdoors in the UK or the southern United States?

No reliable answer exists, as no cold data are available. It comes from frost-free tropical forests, so a heated glasshouse is the only reasonable option in the UK; outdoors, only frost-free, humid tropical climates seem suitable, which is a deduction, not a tested result.

Do I need a CITES permit?

For plants, yes, in international trade (CITES Appendix II, Annex B in the European Union). Seeds are exempt under annotation #4.

Further reading on Succulentes

Sources

Reference sites

Bibliography

  • Lindström, A.J., Calonje, M., Stevenson, D.W., Husby, C. & Taylor, A. (2013). Clarification of Zamia acuminata and a new Zamia species from Coclé Province, Panama. Phytotaxa 98(2): 27–42. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.98.2.1 [Reference article on the species; first page (abstract, introduction, protologue) read.]
  • Acuña-Castillo, R.H. (2010). Revisión taxonómica y morfológica y distribución de Zamia (Zamiaceae) en Costa Rica. Master’s thesis (Maestría Académica en Biología), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José. hdl:10669/84075 [Revision not published in a journal; full text consulted.]
  • Thiselton-Dyer, W.T. (1884). Zamia acuminata. In: Hemsley, W.B., Biologia Centrali-Americana, Botany 3: 194. [Protologue; Latin text read as reproduced by Lindström and colleagues (2013).]
  • Bramblett, T. (2013). Zamia Update: an Old Cycad Mystery and a New Discovery. Montgomery Botanical Center, 9 May 2013. [Botanic garden news item; read.]
  • Taylor B., A.S., Haynes, J.L. & Holzman, G. (2008). Taxonomical, nomenclatural and biogeographical revelations in the Zamia skinneri complex of Central America (Cycadales: Zamiaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 158(3): 399–429. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2008.00886.x [Source of the summary of Caputo and colleagues (2004); full text read.]
  • Caputo, P., Cozzolino, S., De Luca, P., Moretti, A. & Stevenson, D.W. (2004). Molecular phylogeny of Zamia (Zamiaceae). In: Walters, T. & Osborne, R. (eds), Cycad Classification: Concepts and Recommendations. CABI Publishing, Wallingford: 149–157. [Cited after Taylor and colleagues (2008); reference as given by Lindstrom and colleagues (2024); not consulted.]
  • Lindstrom, A., Habib, S., Dong, S., Gong, Y., Liu, J., Calonje, M., Stevenson, D. & Zhang, S. (2024). Transcriptome sequencing data provide a solid base to understand the phylogenetic relationships, biogeography and reticulated evolution of the genus Zamia L. (Cycadales: Zamiaceae). Annals of Botany 134(5): 747–768. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcae065 [Sample from San José listed in Table 1; full text consulted.]
  • Stevenson, D.W. & Calonje, M. (2022). Zamia acuminata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T66910559A66910337. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T66910559A66910337.en [Current assessment (VU); reference taken from The World List of Cycads and Crossref, Red List page not consulted.]
  • Calonje, M., Stevenson, D.W. & Osborne, R. (2026). The World List of Cycads, version 2026.08.15. Montgomery Botanical Center, Coral Gables. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21958524 [Reference checklist; consulted directly.]
  • Haynes, J.L. (2022). Etymological compendium of cycad names. Phytotaxa 550(1): 1–31. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.550.1.1 [Source of the etymologies given by The World List of Cycads; not consulted directly.]