Macrozamia miquelii

Macrozamia miquelii, is a species of cycad in the plant family Zamiaceae. It is endemic to Queensland and New South Wales in Eastern Australia. Located within sclerophyll forests dominated by eucalyptus trees, the cycad grows on nutrient-poor soils. It is recognised within the Zamiaceae family for its, medium height at 1 m, intermediate size of male and female cones and comparatively lighter green leaves. The seeds have a bright orange red sarcotesta which attracts fauna consumption, allowing a mutualistic seed dispersal for the cycad. These seeds are also edible for human consumption if prepared correctly to remove the toxins. 
Description.
"Macrozamia miquelii" are acaulescent. The caudex, which can grow to a diameter of 45 cm and 50 cm in height, is usually subterranean with little of it being visible above ground. This cycad has between 20 and 80 slightly glossy dark green leaves (fronds) in its crown, each leaf growing to a length of 2.3 m long. The leaves consist of 80 to 160 leaflets, each leaflet is 15 cm to 50 cm long, 8 mm to 20 mm wide and are covered in grey-brown hairs. Leaflets are discolorous with a dark green and slightly glossy upper surface and a paler green lower surface. Distal leaflets are spaced closely to other leaflets while proximal leaflets are more spread out. The rachis of the "Macrozamia miquelii" remains straight with a pale green colour and the leaflets are inserted at 40 degree angles to the rachis.    
"Macrozamia miquelii" like all cycads are dioecious. The male cycad develops 1 to 5 male (pollen) cones, each cone measuring 12 cm to 28 cm in length and 4 cm to 7 cm in diameter. These cones are fusiform but curve with age and remain green throughout its lifetime. The female cycad develops 1 to 3 female (seed) cones, each cone measuring 25 cm to 40 cm in length and 10 cm to 15 cm in diameter. The female cone remains green and has a cylindrical shape. Seeds are oblong, with a length of 2 cm to 3 cm and diameter of 1.5 cm to 2 cm. The sarcotesta has an orange yellow colour which turns reddish-orange when the seeds are ripe. Shedding of pollen occurs from October to November and seeds ripen in March.
Etymology.
Ferdinand von Mueller named this cycad in 1862. The species name, "Macrozamia miquelii", honours Dutch botanist Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel. As an early pioneer of cycad systematics, Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel studied numerous species of cycads.
Distribution and Habitat.
"Macrozamia miquelii" is found in both southern Queensland and northern NSW, from Port Curtis District to the upper Richmond River. The cycad is located on ridges and slopes within sclerophyll forests where eucalyptus tree species including the "Corymbia citriodora" and "Eucalyptus crebra" dominate the canopy. Scattered plants grow on low-nutrient stony or sandy soils at an altitude range of 10 m to 540 m.
Ecology.
"Macrozamia miquelii" requires a mutualistic relationship with fauna for its seed dispersal. As the sarcotesta are bright and colourful, avian and mammalian species are attracted to the seeds. With no toxins in the sarcotesta, smaller fauna including wallabies, possums and crows strip off the sarcotesta, leaving the seed untouched. Larger fauna such as emus and cassowaries have been observed contributing to seed dispersal as the seeds can be ingested and defecated intact without harming the fauna.    
Conservation.
"Macrozamia miquelii" was rated as "least concern" by the IUCN in 2009. The IUCN has also indicated the cycad to have a decreasing population trend as a result of a declining quality of habitat. Conservation areas where the cycad species is protected includes Byfield National Park and Mount Archer National Park. The IUCN estimates a total of 10,000 to 20,000 mature individual plants remain within the wild.  
Uses.
The seeds of the "Macrozamia miquelii" are edible after being treated. The Aboriginal Australians utilised multiple traditional preparation techniques such as leaching the seeds in water and aging, to remove the toxins within the seeds for consumption. The pith of the cycad contains a toxic starch that once processed to remove the toxins, is edible and used in laundries.
Toxicity.
Most parts of the "Macrozamia miquelii" are toxic with the seeds of the cycad having a higher concentration of azoxyglycosides, especially cycasin, than other parts of the plant. Other toxins identified within the cycad include β-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) which acts as a powerful neurotoxin if ingested. The ingestion of raw cycad seeds by an animal can lead to death and cause nausea and diarrhea in humans as well as death in some cases. This toxicity protects the plant against insect attacks while also deterring predators including humans from consuming the plant.