Macrozamia fraseri

Meaning of name: Macrozamia is from the Greek word macros, meaning large, and the genus Zamia. Fraseri honours the Western Australian surveyor and pastoralist Charles Fitzgerald Fraser (1883-1951), collector of the type specimen.

Aboriginal name: Jeeriji.

Aboriginal use: The fruits of Macrozamia fraseri were treated to remove poisons before being roasted and eaten.

Distribution: Occurs on deep sand from Eneabba to Perth.

Description: Rigid fronds to 3 metres long. Fruiting cones are up to 50 centimetres long. Plants are either male or female. Seeds are covered in bright red flesh.

References: Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. 1996.

The Cycad Pages. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/PlantNet/cycad/index.html

Bush Tucker Plants of the South-West. B Daw, T Walley, G Keighery. 1997.