Male zamia plants produce cones that ripen one after the other during the flowering season. Weevils are attracted to the ripe cones by their aroma. The weevils mate, and lay their eggs inside the male cones. Chemicals in the cones of Zamia protect the lavae from predators.

The lavae develop into adults, and (covered in spores) fly off to look for another Zamia plant. If they land on a female plant which is ripe (and producing an attractive aroma), they enter the space between the cones where the spores are transferred to the seeds, thus pollinating the seed.

The female cones are poisonous, so the weevils fly off to look a male plant and repeat the cycle.

Created by Daniel Boase-Jelinek August 2004

All photographs are copyright of Daniel Boase-Jelinek unless otherwise indicated.

The logo of the Friends of Shenton Bushland is copyright of June L. Weller

Last updated November 2006