Zamia wallisii
{{Short description|Species of cycad}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Zamia wallisii.jpg
| image_caption = Zamia wallisii, illustration
| status = CR
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Zamia
| species = wallisii
| authority = Veitch ex A.Br.
| synonyms =
}}
Zamia wallisii is a species of plant in the family (Zamiaceae) that is commonly known as the chigua. It is endemic to Colombia.
History
Zamia wallisii was described in 1875 by Alexander Braun from material collected by Gustav Wallis in Colombia. The species was collected once again in 1888 by Guillermo Kalbreyer and then not seen again for 100 years. Both the Wallis and Kalbreyer collections were lost and no type specimen was extant resulting in some doubt about the existence of the species until its rediscovery in the 1980s, by Ian Sutherland Turner.{{cite web|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/cycadpg?taxname=Zamia+wallisii|title=Zamia wallisii|author=Ken Hill|publisher=The Cycad Pages (Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney)|access-date=2 November 2008|archive-date=20 September 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060920200210/http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/cycadpg?taxname=Zamia+wallisii|url-status=dead}} Its most noteworthy feature is its leaflets, which are up to {{convert|23.5|in|cm|abbr=off|sp=us}} long and {{convert|11|in|cm|abbr=off|sp=us|spell=in}} wide, the largest of any gymnosperm.{{cite book | last= Jones | first= David L. | date= 1993 | title= Cycads of the World | location= Washington, D.C. | publisher= Smithsonian Institution Press | page= 304 }}
Conservation
There is only one known population of this plant, comprising fewer than 50 individuals. It is located in habitat that is being consumed by deforestation. Plants are found near the town of Frontino, Antioquia Department, and also near Urrao, and in Las Orquideas National Park.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5492231}}
Category:Endemic flora of Colombia