Zamia cunaria

Zamia cunaria was described in 1993 by Dennis Stevenson based on a type found in 1989 in Guna Yala, Panama. The stem of Zamia cunaria is subterranean, sub-globose, and up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in diameter. There is usually one, but sometimes up to three, compound leaves on the stem apex. The leaves are 0.5 to 1.5 metres (1 ft 8 in to 4 ft 11 in) long, with a 15 to 50 centimetres (5.9 to 19.7 in) long petiole (leaf stalk). The petiole is sparsely to densely covered by prickles. There are three to twelve pairs of leaflets on the rachis (shaft) of the leaf. The leaflets are lanceolate or oblanceolate, wedge-shaped at the base and tapering to a point. The edges are toothed on the outer third of the leaflets. Larger leaflets are 20 to 40 centimetres (7.9 to 15.7 in) long and 5 to 8 centimetres (2.0 to 3.1 in) wide. Like all cycads, Zamia cunaria is dioecious, with individual plants being either male or female. Male strobili (cones) are cream to tan in color, cylindrical to ovoid-cylindrical in shape, 4 to 6 centimetres (1.6 to 2.4 in) long and 1 to 1.5 centimetres (0.39 to 0.59 in) in diameter, standing on a peduncle 2 to 4 centimetres (0.79 to 1.57 in) tall. Female strobili are wine-red to dark red-brown in color, ovoid to ovoid-cylindrical in shape, 15 to 20 centimetres (5.9 to 7.9 in) long and 5 to 7 centimetres (2.0 to 2.8 in) in diameter. …

Zamia cunaria usually is found on clay soils in secondary vegetation in hilly country between 400 and 800 metres (1,300 and 2,600 ft) above sea level.

The epithet cunaria refers to the Guna people (formerly spelled "Kuna" or "Cuna"), who make necklaces from the seeds of the plant, and in whose territory the species is endemic. The Guna call the plant obset.