Zamia lindleyi

Zamia lindleyi is a cycad of the mountains of western Panama, known from the provinces of Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí, where it grows at middle elevations in steep cloud forest. Described in 1851 and named after the English botanist John Lindley, this species of the genus Zamia was long confused with Zamia chigua, a Colombian species, until botanists rehabilitated it in 2012. The IUCN rates it Endangered (2022 assessment).

Key facts about Zamia lindleyi

  • Accepted name: Zamia lindleyi Warsz. (1851), accepted by The World List of Cycads (version 2026.08.15); GBIF and the World Checklist of Vascular Plants, on which POWO is based, accept it as Zamia lindleyi Warsz. ex A.Dietr.; POWO could not be consulted directly
  • Former names and synonyms: no synonym; long treated as the same plant as Zamia chigua, and once labelled Zamia chigua “Panamá”
  • Family: Zamiaceae, order Cycadales
  • Common names: no name attested, in English or in Spanish
  • Natural range: Panama, provinces of Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí, in the western highlands, in cloud forest; 600 to 1,200 m in Chiriquí according to the Flora de Colombia, 5,000 to 7,000 feet in the 1851 description; the whole range lies within a protected area according to a field naturalist
  • IUCN status: Endangered (EN B1ab(v)+2ab(v)), 2022 assessment
  • 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, under dense canopy in cloud forest; in cultivation, a free-draining, neutral to acid compost and water, and temperatures of 20 to 30 °C (68 to 86 °F) are advised for its group
  • Habit and adult size: a large, trunk-forming cycad; the original description of 1851 gives an upright trunk of 6 to 7 feet (about 1.8 to 2.1 m) and leaves with 13 to 15 pairs of narrow leaflets
  • In the UK, US and Australia: no garden declares it to BGCI; reported as very rare in cultivation in the United States and Australia
  • Toxicity: no data specific to the species; treat it as poisonous, like all cycads (see Toxicity and precautions)

How to recognise Zamia lindleyi

The original description, published by Albert Dietrich in 1851 from the drawing and notes that Józef Warszewicz made on the spot, gives an upright, thick, almost cylindrical trunk 6 to 7 feet tall (about 1.8 to 2.1 m), apparently hairless; leaves in a dense crown at the top of the trunk, arching upwards with drooping tips, as long as the trunk or even longer, with 13 to 15 pairs of leaflets; a strong, ribbed rachis bearing stiff bristles or small tufts of short prickles; opposite leaflets about a foot and a half long (about 45 cm), linear to linear-lanceolate, an inch (about 2.5 cm) wide near the base and drawn out into a long, thin, almost thread-like tip, with entire margins; and a single cone at the top of the trunk, short and thick, more ovoid than cylindrical, of which nothing more was known (Dietrich, 1851). These figures come from a field drawing and are given in old feet and inches; the modern descriptions (Calonje and colleagues, 2012; Taylor and colleagues, 2013) are not freely available.

The naturalist Jay Vannini describes it as a large, trunk-forming and extremely handsome cycad, scattered under dense canopy in steep cloud forest; he adds that the photograph published in Whitelock’s The Cycads (2002) is atypical (Vannini, 2019). The surest guide remains geography: it is the Zamia of the mountains of western Panama, whereas Zamia chigua, with which it was long confused, grows in the lowland rainforests of the Colombian Chocó and Valle del Cauca.

Hybrids

No hybrid, natural or raised in cultivation, is documented.

Possible confusion

The historical confusion is with Zamia chigua, a species of the Colombian departments of Chocó and Valle del Cauca (The World List of Cycads). The two have separate ranges: the mountains of western Panama for Zamia lindleyi, the lowland rainforests of the Chocó for Zamia chigua (Stevenson, 2001). Vannini (2019) notes that the Panamanian plant was formerly identified as Zamia chigua “Panamá” and may still occasionally be treated as such by some regional botanists, citing Acuña (2010). The morphological characters that separate the two species, set out in the 2012 paper, could not be checked.

Zamia skinneri, described in the same article of 1851 from plants of the same journey, differed in that description by elliptic-lanceolate leaflets about half a foot (15 cm) wide, toothed towards the tip, against narrow, linear, entire leaflets for Zamia lindleyi (Dietrich, 1851).

Taxonomy

Zamia lindleyi is an accepted name according to The World List of Cycads, GBIF and the World Checklist of Vascular Plants, on which POWO is based (read on GBIF, version of 4 June 2026); POWO itself could not be consulted. It was published in 1851 in the Allgemeine Gartenzeitung (volume 19, pages 145 and 146, with a figure), in a “report on two new Zamia” by Albert Dietrich that also described Zamia skinneri. The World List of Cycads attributes it to Józef Warszewicz alone; the World Checklist of Vascular Plants, GBIF and the title of the paper by Taylor and colleagues (2013) write “Warsz. ex A.Dietr.”, that is, described by Warszewicz but published by Albert Dietrich. The type is the figure of the original description (lectotype).

For much of its history the name was treated as a synonym of Zamia chigua, described in 1854 from Colombian plants. In 2012 Michael Calonje, Alberto S. Taylor, Dennis Wm. Stevenson, Gregory Holzman and Y.A. Ramos defended the species in the proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Cycad Biology (Cycad 2008, published in the Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden), under the title “Zamia lindleyi: a misunderstood species from the highlands of Western Panama”. A 2013 article in The Cycad Newsletter presented it as an endemic of the western highlands of the isthmus. A member of the French Fous de palmiers forum had already noted at the end of 2012 that the status of Zamia chigua and Zamia lindleyi needed revising.

Relationships. The transcriptome phylogeny of Lindstrom and colleagues (2024) included a plant from Chiriquí, in Panama.

Etymology and history

The epithet honours John Lindley (1799-1865), a British botanist and professor of botany at University College London (The World List of Cycads, after Haynes, 2022).

Józef Warszewicz, the author of the name, was a Polish plant collector who travelled in Central America around 1850. According to Dietrich (1851), he brought back seeds and living trunks of Zamia lindleyi and Zamia skinneri, which he distributed in England and Germany; the seeds, although they looked fresh, did not germinate, and Dietrich did not know whether the trunks had taken. Taylor and colleagues (2008) add that of the stems Warszewicz shipped from the port of Chagres to the English collector James Yates, the one of Zamia lindleyi arrived completely rotten. The species was thus described very early, then long filed under another name, before being rehabilitated in 2012.

Common names

No common name is attested for this species, in English or in Spanish.

In the wild

The World List of Cycads places Zamia lindleyi in the provinces of Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí, in western Panama. According to Vannini (2019), it is localised at middle elevations in steeply sloping cloud forest, rather patchily distributed under dense canopy, and its entire native range lies within a protected area; his article shows, in photographs by Fred Muller, coning-sized plants in the understorey of mature cloud forest.

Dietrich (1851) wrote that Warszewicz had found Zamia lindleyi and Zamia skinneri growing together in the cordilleras of “Veragua”, at 5,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level (roughly 1,500 to 2,100 m). In 1850 “Veraguas” covered the whole western half of Panama, and this account does not fit Zamia skinneri as now understood, a lowland species of Bocas del Toro (Taylor and colleagues, 2008).

Before the species was rehabilitated, the treatment of Zamia chigua in the Flora de Colombia (Stevenson, 2001) already mentioned a disjunct population in the Chiriquí region of Panama, growing between 600 and 1,200 m and described as relatively common there. These Chiriquí plants fall within the range that The World List of Cycads now gives for Zamia lindleyi. Its soils, pollinators and phenology have not been documented.

Conservation status and regulation

Zamia lindleyi is rated Endangered (EN) by the IUCN under criteria B1ab(v)+2ab(v), in an assessment by Alberto Taylor-Blake and Michael Calonje published in 2022 (The World List of Cycads; reference checked on Crossref). GBIF still shows the species as Not Evaluated, a lag in its own data. These criteria mean a small extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, a fragmented population or few locations, and a decline in the number of mature plants. The Red List itself could not be consulted, so the threats are not detailed here; the fact that the whole range lies within a protected area (Vannini, 2019) does not, on its own, rule them out.

Like all Zamia except Zamia restrepoi, which is in Appendix I, Zamia lindleyi is covered by the listing of the genus in CITES Appendix II, in force since 4 February 1977. Annotation #4 (the version adopted at CoP20, in force on 5 March 2026) exempts seeds, pollen, seedlings and tissue cultures obtained in vitro and transported in sterile containers, and cut flowers of artificially propagated plants; international trade in the plants themselves requires an export permit. 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+, the official CITES database, names the species and confirms this status (checked on 3 October 2026).

This general information does not replace the official texts: check the regulations in force before buying or exchanging plants or seeds, ask the seller for proof of origin and prefer plants raised from cultivated seed.

Growing Zamia lindleyi

No growing advice specific to Zamia lindleyi has been published in the scientific literature. Jay Vannini writes that it is still very rare in cultivation, in Australia and the United States and perhaps in Thailand, that it is reportedly challenging to keep in the long term, and that it may be sensitive to temperature and water quality because of its montane origin (Vannini, 2019).

Simon Lavaud, of the French specialist nursery Cycadales.eu, places it in his group of cloud forest Zamia of Panama and Colombia, with Zamia montana, Zamia oligodonta and Zamia wallisii: species he describes as extremely rare in cultivation and in the wild, very difficult and suited only to experienced growers, found at fairly high elevations in cool, very humid forest. As a starting point he suggests an always free-draining, neutral to acid compost, neutral to acid water, and temperatures between 20 and 30 °C (68 and 86 °F), avoiding any extreme of heat or cold (Lavaud, 2023). This is advice for the whole group, given for very rare plants about which little is known.

Outdoor and in-ground cultivation

Outdoor cultivation is only conceivable in a mild, humid, frost-free climate without great heat, close to that of a tropical montane forest. No garden is known to grow it in the open.

Container cultivation

Outside such climates it is a plant for a humid, temperature-controlled glasshouse or growing room. A free-draining, neutral to acid compost, soft water and steady temperatures within the range suggested by Lavaud are the only published pointers.

In cultivation in the UK, US and Australia

In short: no garden declares it; very rare in private collections.

  • United States: no record in BGCI, and no entry under this name in the online catalogue of Montgomery Botanical Center (queried on 25 October 2026). Vannini (2019) reports it as very rare in cultivation in the country.
  • United Kingdom: no record in BGCI or in the online catalogues of British gardens.
  • Australia: no record in BGCI; Vannini (2019) also reports it as very rare in cultivation there.

Propagation

No data specific to the species. Like all Zamia, it has separate male and female plants, and it is propagated from fresh seed. Given its rarity and protected range, any material should come from documented, legal sources.

Pests and diseases

No pest or disease specific to the species has been documented. In cultivation, Zamia are chiefly at risk from rot in cold, waterlogged soil and from scale insects; Vannini’s remark on water quality suggests particular care with irrigation water.

Cold hardiness

No data exist on the cold tolerance of Zamia lindleyi. It lives in tropical mountains, in cloud forest at middle elevations, but no observation says whether it can take frost. The British nursery Trebrown places it in USDA zone 9b, a commercial classification without any dated record; Lavaud’s advice for its group, temperatures between 20 and 30 °C (68 and 86 °F) avoiding any extreme, points to a much more tender plant.

Mediterranean and European experience

No cultivation result has been published in France or elsewhere in Europe, either in the ground or in a pot, and no dated frost episode concerns the species. For readers in Mediterranean-type climates such as California or southern Australia, it remains a plant for a controlled glasshouse.

United Kingdom, United States and Australia

No cold record exists, and no garden in these countries declares it. In the UK it needs a heated, humid glasshouse.

Toxicity and precautions

No toxicity study specific to Zamia lindleyi has been published. The risk is, however, well documented in cycads: Zamia contain toxic glycosides (cycasin, macrozamin), from which methylazoxymethanol is derived, a compound toxic to the liver and nervous system, and the ASPCA cites cycasin and BMAA, a neurotoxic amino acid, for Zamia furfuracea, which it lists as toxic to 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 is documented for this species.

Frequently asked questions

Is Zamia lindleyi the same plant as Zamia chigua?

No. The name was long treated as a synonym of Zamia chigua, but the species was rehabilitated in 2012: it lives in the mountains of western Panama, whereas Zamia chigua grows in the lowlands of the Colombian Chocó.

Who was Lindley?

John Lindley (1799-1865), a British botanist and professor at University College London, after whom the species is named.

Where does it grow?

In the provinces of Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí, in western Panama, in steep cloud forest at middle elevations (600 to 1,200 m for the Chiriquí plants according to the Flora de Colombia; 5,000 to 7,000 feet according to the 1851 description), within a protected area according to a field naturalist.

Does it form a trunk?

Yes. The original description of 1851 gives an upright trunk of 6 to 7 feet (about 1.8 to 2.1 m), and the naturalist Jay Vannini describes it as a large, trunk-forming cycad.

Is it endangered?

Yes. The IUCN rates it Endangered (2022 assessment), because of a small range and a decline in the number of adult plants.

Is it easy to grow?

No. A naturalist describes it as challenging to keep in the long term and very rare in cultivation, and a specialist nursery classes its group as very difficult.

Is it hardy?

Nobody knows. No cold data exist; it should be kept frost-free, and advice for its group suggests temperatures between 20 and 30 °C (68 and 86 °F).

Is it poisonous?

It must be assumed so. No analysis specific to the species exists, but the cycads studied contain serious toxins, mainly in the seeds.

Further reading on Succulentes

Sources

Reference sites

Bibliography

  • Dietrich, A. (1851). Bericht über zwei neue Zamien, nebst Abbildung derselben. Allgemeine Gartenzeitung 19: 145–146, fig. [Original description of Zamia lindleyi and Zamia skinneri, from Warszewicz’s notes and drawing; digitised copy 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 [Reference revision of the Zamia skinneri complex; full text read.]
  • Calonje, M., Taylor, A.S., Stevenson, D.W., Holzman, G. & Ramos, Y.A. (2012). Zamia lindleyi: a misunderstood species from the highlands of Western Panama. In: Stevenson, D.W., Osborne, R. & Taylor Blake, A.S. (eds), Proceedings of Cycad 2008, the 8th International Conference on Cycad Biology. Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden 106: 419–437. [Rehabilitation of the species; reference given by The World List of Cycads; not consulted.]
  • Taylor, A.S., Holzman, G., Calonje, M. & Espinosa Miranda, C. (2013). Zamia lindleyi Warsz. ex A. Dietr., a western highland endemic of the Isthmus of Panama. The Cycad Newsletter 36(4): 6–13. [Specialist society journal; reference given by The World List of Cycads; not consulted.]
  • Stevenson, D.W. (2001). Orden Cycadales. Flora de Colombia 21: 1–91. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. [Treatment of Zamia chigua, including the Chiriquí population; online version read.]
  • 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 [Full text read on PubMed Central.]
  • Taylor-Blake, A. & Calonje, M. (2022). Zamia lindleyi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T187840A1829211. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T187840A1829211.en [Red List assessment; reference given by The World List of Cycads and checked on Crossref; Red List page not consulted.]
  • 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.]
  • 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.]