Etymology: In reference to the long acuminate leaflet tips. Historical notes: Distinguishing features: Small plant generally bearing 3-5 leaves with entire margins and leaflets with long drawn out apices. Female cones green when mature. Distribution and habitat: Found from near sea level in Nicaragua (the type locality) to 1200 m in Panama. Generally prefers understory situations in cloud forest. Conservation status: Zamia acuminata is considered rare in Panama and Nicaragua and vunerable in Costa Rica. Generally speaking though, local populations are healthy. 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants category R, II.
Description:
Stem subterranean, subglobose to cylindrical, rarely to 30 cm tall to 5 cm diam. Cataphylls Leaves 1-5, to 1 m long; petiole to 60 cm, densely prickled; rachis with 6-15 pairs of leaflets, some prickles in lower third. Leaflets elliptic-lanceolate, subcoriaceous, cuneate basally, very long acuminate apically, margins entire, the larger median ones 20-30 cm long, 1-3 cm wide. Pollen cones cream to tan, cylindrical, 5-8 cm long, 1-1.5 cm diam. Seed cones cylindical to ovoid, cream to tan, 10-20 cm long, 5-8 cm diam. Seeds ovoid, red. 2n = 24.
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