Scientific Name
Zamia furfuracea L.f. ex Aiton
Synonyms
Palma pumila Mill., Palmifolium furfuraceum (L.f. ex Aiton) Kuntze, Zamia crassifolia T.Moore, Zamia gutierrezii Sauvalle, Zamia vestita Van Houtte [1]
Vernacular Name
| English | Broad-leafed Zamia [2] |
| Honduras | Camotillo [3]. |
Geographical Distributions
No documentation.
Botanical Description
Zamia furfurcea is a member of the Zamiaceae family. The rootstock is large and grows to about 30 cm in height. [2]
The leaves are pinnate with leaflets about 10 pairs regularly widening towards the apex, the lower half being entire and upper half minutely serrated or jagged at the extremity. [2]
The footstalk or stipes has several small prickles and is dilated into a rounded concave form at the base. [2]
The spadix is pedunculated, oval with a conical apex, downy, and of a uniform pale yellowish brown colour. [2]
When wounded there exudes a mucilaginous liquid which hardened into a pellucid, nearly insipid or slightly bitterish gum. [2]
Cultivation
No documentation.
Chemical Constituent
No documentation.
Plant Part Used
No documentation.
Traditional Use
No documentation.
Preclinical Data
No documentation.
Clinical Data
No documentation.
Poisonous Management
Toxic parts
All parts. [4]
Toxin
Cycasin, an azoglycoside that releases methlazoxymethanol the compound directly responsible for toxicity [4]. This compound may caus centrilobular and midzonal coagulative hepatic necrosis and gastrointestinal irritation. Cycasin itself is carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic [5][6].
Risk management
As mentioned above the whole plant contains the toxic principle and the ease of flow of exudates upon cutting the plant, it is wise to avoid the plants where there are children in the house. The toxic effects outweighs the ornamental beauty of the plant. [2][4][5][6]
Poisonous clinical findings
The most common feature of poisoning by Z. furfuracea is nausea and vomiting which is associated with abdominal colic. Other symptoms include visual complainst and lethargy. In severe cases coma may ensue. [4]
Management
Symptomatic treatment of severe gastrointestinal symptoms includes intravenous hydration, antiemetic and electrolyte replacement. There is no known specific antidote for the CNS manifestation. [4]
Line Drawing
No documentation.
References
- The Plant List. Ver1.1. Zamia furfuracea L.f. ex Aiton [homepage on the Internet]. c2013 [updated 2012 Mar 26; cited 2016 May 11]. Available from: http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2470012
- Sims J. Curtis’s botanical magazine Volume 45. London: Sherwood, Neely, & Jones, 1818; p. 1969.
- Quattrocchi U. CRC world dictionary of medicinal and poisonous plants: Common names, scientific names, eponyms, synonyms, and etymology. Volume V R-Z. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 2012; p. 814.
- Nelson LS, Shih RD, Balick MJ. Handbook of poisonous and injurious plants. 2nd ed. New York: Springer, 2007; p. 301-303.
- Cheeke PR. Natural toxicants in feeds, forages, and poisonous plants. Danville, Illinois: Interstate Publishers, 1998; p. 388-389.
- Keeler RF, Tu AT, editors. Handbook of natural toxins: Plant and fungal toxins Vol 1. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1983; p. 239-298.
