Macrozamia communis

Taxobox
name = "Macrozamia communis"
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = down
status_ref = [IUCN2006|assessors=Hill|year=2003|id=42000|title=Macrozamia communis|downloaded=12 May 2006 ]


image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Macrozamia communis"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Cycadophyta
classis = Cycadopsida
ordo = Cycadales
familia = Zamiaceae
genus = "Macrozamia"
species = "M. communis"
binomial = "Macrozamia communis"
binomial_authority = L.A.S.Johnson, 1959

"Macrozamia communis" is an Australian cycad found on the east coast of New South Wales. The common name for the species is burrawang, a word derived from the Daruk Australian Aboriginal language; this name is also often applied to other species of "Macrozamia".

The burrawang has the most extensive distribution of any cycad in New South Wales and is found along the coast from the district around Armidale, New South Wales to Bega 700 km south and on the coastal slopes of the Great Dividing Range with some instances on the inland slopes of the range; as far west as the Mudgee district. It is most abundant on the south coast of the state cite web | last = Kennedy | first = P. | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 1993 | url = http://www.pacsoa.org.au/cycads/Macrozamia/communis.html | title = Macrozamia communis | work = Cycads | publisher = Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia (PACSOA) | accessdate = 2006-04-30] .

The plants grow in open forests cite web | year = 2003 | url = http://www.anbg.gov.au/apu/plants/macrcomm.html | title = Burrawang | work = Australian Aboriginal ethnobotany | publisher = Australian National Botanic Gardens | accessdate = 2006-04-30] .Seed cones are formed after fire. Male and female seed cones are on separate plants and the large female seeds are ripe when red or yellow .

The seeds of the burrawang are a good source of starch but are poisonous to eat unless treated. The Cadigal people pounded and soaked the seeds in water for a week, changing the water daily. The pulp was then made into cakes and roasted over hot embers [cite web | url = http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/information_about_plants/botanical_info/aboriginal_bush_foods | title = Aboriginal bush foods | work = Botanical information - Botanic Gardens Trust - Sydney, Australia | publisher = Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) | accessdate = 2006-04-30] .

The conservation status of the species is "not considered to be at risk" cite web | last = Hill | first = K. | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2004 | url = http://plantnet.rbgsyd.gov.au/cgi-bin/cycadpg?taxname=Macrozamia+communis | title = Macrozamia communis | work = The Cycad Pages | publisher = Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney | accessdate = 2006-04-30] .

References