OBSERVATIONS ON ZAMIA INTEGRIFOLIA. 25 
long, elliptical, pointed, downy, the scales finally separate 
widely, each is peltate and angular, remaining after the drupe 
has fallen. The drupe is elliptical, about half an inch in 
length, with a small quantity of sweet orange-colored pulp, 
and a large rather-pointed nut. 
The Z. media differs from the present species in having 
more numerous, longer, and narrower leaflets, which are 
perfectly entire, or nearly destitute of the servatures at the 
extremity j the foot-stalk is not as smooth, and the female 
cone is obtuse and not pointed. It has been called media be- 
cause it appeafs to be intermediate between Z. ungustifalia 
and Z. integrifolia. 
The natural family to which Zamia belongs is Cycadacese* 
The dwarf Zamia, by all the authorities we have consulted, is 
referred to East Florida, and by a few to the West Indies. 
Willdenow refers it to St. Domingo, Pursh informs us that 
it is " only found in Florida," and that he had made every 
inquiry to find it in Georgia, but without success. Mr. Bar- 
tram, in his travels, states that " it grows in the open pine 
forests, in tufts or clumps." It appears also that the Zamia 
media is found in similar localities, from the references at- 
tached to the specimens in the Herbarium of the Academy of 
Natural Sciences. 
The root of this plant contains large quantities of feculent 
substance, a fact which is overlooked by all the authorities 
above quoted ; Mr. Nuttall, however, remarks that the fari- 
na is wholesome and nutricious, and that the root is one of 
those called by the aborigines Tuckahoe or bread. The 
specimens in our possession present masses of almost pure fe- 
cula3, dense, weighty, and of a pure white color, tasteless and 
* The different species of Zamia were originally supposed to be ferns, 
from the resemblance of the leaves to this tribe ; a mistake which is 
sometimes made by common observers at the present time. To a certain 
extent there is an affinity to Palms, but the resemblance is not carried out 
beyond the pinnate leaves and large cylindrical stems. Palms are mono- 
cotyledonous, while the Cycadaceae are dicotyledonous, and there are 
other points which evince dissimilarity. 
VOL. VIII. — NO. I. 4 
