Zamia obliqua

Native from southern Panama to northwestern Colombia, this tree-like cycad grows in the understory of primary and secondary rainforests. In Colombia, it occurs from near sea level to about 2,000 feet. Its slender trunk can reach about 16 feet tall, topped by long, feather-like leaves with broad leaflets whose bases are uneven. Male and female cones develop on separate plants, and the mature seeds are red. Plants must grow more than about 3 feet tall before producing seed cones, making replacement of mature populations slow after forest clearance. It is listed as Vulnerable on Colombia’s national red list. Photographed in Colombia.