These low, evergreen representatives of the flora are underground, with a smooth surface, a tuber-like (elongated form) trunk of low height. Their trunk is covered with scars from fallen leaves. Non-dense, feather-like leaves are not numerous, grow at different times, ie, one appears after another. A stalk with a smooth surface or a small number of thorns. Leaves are dense, solid, pointed or oval in shape. The base of the leaves is divided into two parts - narrow and wide, the edges are one-piece or with denticles. Periodically there are leaves, in which parallel veins are visible from below.
In this dioecious plant, the reproductive organ (strobila) resembles cones of coniferous plants. With the approach of full development, they form rosettes with megastrobils (female representatives) between leaves, which consist of groups of corymboid sporophylls, in other words, leaves with spores, on which two ovules are on the underside of the scute, and male representatives form microbubbles.
Zamia is widely known as a houseplant. Predominantly common Zamia furfuracea, resembling a palm tree.
Kinds.
Zamia roezli Regel, also known as zamia pseudo-parasitic. Distributed in the tropics of Peru, Ecuador, Panama and Colombia. It grows on trees (like the epiphyte) and on the ground. The height of the trunk reaches three meters. The length of adult leaves is two meters, there are thorns on the petiole. Young jagged leaves have a length of 30 to 40 cm, and a width of 2.5 to 3.5 cm. In the lower part of the leaves, longitudinally located veins are visible.
Zamia furfuracea L. f., Otherwise zamiya powdered. The native land of this species is Veracruz and Mexico. A well-known plant that is common among indoor plant lovers not only in America, but even in East and South-East Asia, such as Japan, Singapore and Thailand. The trunk of this plant without stems, resembling a turnip, is hidden almost entirely underground and has a rosette with unusually beautiful feathery flowers, from 50 to 150 cm long, grayish-blue in color. In rare cases, the trunk of old plants can rise twenty centimeters above the ground.
Twelve or thirteen pairs of leaves have an oblong shape or egg shape. Leaves are leathery, of high density, the same parallel parallel veins that are covered in adult leaves from below, and in young on both sides close to each other with white scales are clearly visible at the bottom.
Care rules.
Room flowers zamiya can safely tolerate direct sunlight, but do not leave them under direct rays at noon, you need to create a shadow for them. This plant can be located on the south side, as well as at the western and eastern windows. At the northern location, there is a deficit of light for growth. Although Zamia loves bright lighting, it is still necessary to gradually accustom to the direct sun, because the plant can get burned. The zamiyu should periodically put different sides to the light, so that the rosette of leaves develops evenly, and a beautiful plant grows.
The preferred temperature in the autumn and spring is about 25-28 ° C. In winter, the temperature for the content should be lower, about 14-17 ° C. Zamia is flowers that do not tolerate stagnation of the surrounding air.
During the spring-fall period, abundant watering of the plant with standing water is carried out, in accordance with the insignificant drying of the upper soil layer. With the onset of the autumn period, watering is reduced, especially with regard to cool content. In winter, watering is done occasionally, you should not allow both strong moistening and drying of the earth.
When the zamia is maintained in the apartment, no additional air humidification is required, the plant tolerates dry air well. In the hot season of spring and summer, spraying of the plant is allowed. The water should be soft and at room temperature.
In spring and summer, zamiya fertilization is necessary, every 21-28 days. For this, a complex fertilizer intended for indoor plants is used. With the onset of the autumn period, the feeding stops, and in winter it is completely canceled.
Plant transplantation, if necessary, is done in spring and summer, preferably before the beginning of its new growth. Flowers zamiya must be contained in nutrient soil, medium density, which includes an equal amount of humus, peat, turf, sand and fine granite from granite. The bottom of the pot must be provided with drainage.
To multiply the zamia, seeds are used that are placed up to half the diameter of the seed, into the mixture, of light density, providing heat and moisture. As soon as the first roots appear, they are immediately gently placed in different pots, one sprout.
Possible difficulties.
In the summer, when the direct noonday sun comes in, leaves can burn out from an overabundance of light.
Zamiya has a slow growth. Sometimes even for several years the plant does not have new shoots.
Watering should be done with caution, since over-saturation of moisture can cause disease of the plant.
Spoil these indoor flowers can such parasites as spider mite and scab.