Status of Zamia amplifolia in the Wild
By Alvaro Calonje Daly
(Click on photos to enlarge)

Zamia amplifolia was first described and found in the Rio Calima Valley close to Buenaventura back in 1878. Along with Zamia wallisi and Zamia montana, it remains poorly studied. Some authors believe it is very close to Zamia dresslerii from Panama. 

In the 1970s, a multinational Smurfit Carton de Colombia took a forestry concession from the Colombian government and cut a vast expanse of primary forest. As a result, much was lost, including unknown quantities of Z. amplifolia. The Calima Valley forest has grown back since then and despite having taken several trips to the area, finding Z. amplifolia has proven unsuccessful. 

The Calima Valley River houses Zamia roezii and Zamia chigua and what appears to be crosses between them. A year ago, in the summer of 2000, we took a short trip following a small road outside the Cauca Valley towards the Choco Area. The area had been heavily settled with plantations of manioc, coffee and banana; however, several large tracts of primary forest allowed us to do some exploring and, thus, we were able to locate Zamia amplifolia. It was growing as an understory plant with some leaves having up to 12 very large leaflets up to 2 feet long. 

According to the book, The Biology of the Cycads, by Norstog and Nicholls, cones of Zamia amplifolia are unknown, although David Jones describes the cones in his book, Cycads of the World, but provides no pictures. 

To the left is a picture of a Zamia amplifolia female cone that we photographed. Zamia amplifolia is the only cycad growing in this area. We recorded 1200 meters of elevation, and judging from the vegetation, the rainfall could be between 120 to 150 inches per year. This area, being in the tropics at a relatively high elevation, has night temperatures of 60-70 degrees F and daytime temperatures of 75-85 F. 

Zamia amplifolia has great value as an ornamental plant, with its large leaves set in an underground stem and its new leaves being of a rich gold color.

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