Zamioculcas flower – domestic dollar tree

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Zamioculcas (Zamioculcas) – a genus of the aroid family, includes the only species that grows in the steppes of the mountainous regions of East Africa and on the coastal highlands of Zanzibar. Due to its unpretentiousness and spectacular appearance, it is becoming increasingly popular in indoor floriculture.

  • Family: Araceae.
  • Origin: East Africa.
  • Rhizome: tuberous with thick roots.
  • Stem: underground, in the form of a tuberous rhizome.
  • Leaves: Compound pinnate, glossy.
  • Fruit: single-seeded berry.
  • Reproductive ability: propagated by leaf cuttings or segments of rhizomes.
  • Illumination: shade-tolerant.
  • Watering: rare, but plentiful.
  • Content temperature: 18-26 °C.
  • Duration of flowering: in room conditions it blooms extremely rarely.

General information about Zamioculcas flowers with a photo

Monotypic genus, represented by a single plant, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, growing in open rocky places in the mountainous regions of East Africa and Zanzibar.

The climate, where hot dry periods alternate with seasons of heavy rains, determined the structural features of the flower. Zamioculcas, unlike other representatives of aroids, is a succulent that is perfectly adapted to existence in conditions of prolonged drought. During rains, all its parts store moisture, which allows the plant to successfully survive the dry period.

Zamioculcas in the photo

Zamioculcas is a spectacular decorative leafy plant . It has an underground stem, which is a powerful tuberous rhizome, from which there are several (usually 4-6) thickened pinnate erect leaves 60-100 cm long with a swollen base, divided into 8-12 separate segments of the correct shape, with a slightly pointed apex. The surface of the leathery dark green leaves is glossy with a waxy coating, which under natural growing conditions helps to reduce moisture evaporation and partially reflects the scorching sun’s rays. A thickened axis (rachis) and fleshy cuttings, covered with purple-green spots, serve to store water. For the same purpose, the thick roots of zamiokulkas are used, and a powerful underground rhizome or tuber, starch is also deposited in the latter. Usually the flower is evergreen, but if the period of drought is prolonged, it can shed its leaves and continue to exist as an underground rhizome, consuming the starch accumulated in the tuber for life. Zamioculcas can be in this dormant state for a long time, waiting for the onset of the rainy season, in which young leaves will reappear from under the ground.

Zamioculcas flowers are formed only on adult specimens and do not represent decorative value. The plant rarely blooms and bears fruit, pollinated by the wind or a few insects that withstand the hot climate of the African mountain plateaus, therefore, in order to preserve the species, nature has provided for it an interesting way of vegetative reproduction. During the period of drought, the upper segments of pinnately dissected leaves fall off separately from the petiole, the base of the fallen leaves thickens, first a tuberous swelling is formed, which then develops into a full-fledged tuber. This rooted tuber gives life to a new plant. The process of such reproduction is quite long, the first shoot may appear in six months, the second – in another six months, and only then growth accelerates.

In general, the flower develops slowly, even under favorable conditions, new leaves appear 1-2 times a year, which is an undoubted advantage when growing it in room culture. Adult specimens are quite large, up to 1 – 1.5 m.

The history of the home plant zamiokulkas and its use in culture

The flower was first described in 1829 by Conrad Loddiges, a well-known collector and founder of one of the largest English nurseries of exotic plants. Then, due to the similarity of the appearance of the sheets with the zamia, a representative of the tropical flora of the American continent, it was given the name Caladium zamiifolium (Caladium zamiifolium), and attributed to the genus Caladium of the aroid family. However, already in 1856, the Austrian botanist Heinrich Wilhelm Schott identified the plant in a separate genus under the name Zamioculcas Loddiges (Zamioculcas loddigesii). Since 1908, it has been called Zamioculcas Zamiefolia.

Zamioculcas in a pot in the photo

Foliage of Zamioculcas in the photo

Despite the fact that the flower has been known to botanists for a long time, interest in it as a room culture arose only in the 90s of the last century. In 1996, individual specimens first appeared at flower auctions in Holland, and quickly gained wide popularity among professional and amateur flower growers. The growing demand for the plant stimulates breeding work to create new varieties. In 2007, the first cultivar appeared on sale, more compact (not higher than 60 cm) compared to the natural species, and, accordingly, with smaller leaves.

As a home plant, Zamioculcas has a number of undeniable advantages. Its exotic appearance with spectacular hard glossy leaves is combined with amazing unpretentiousness and ease of care. Unlike other representatives of the aroid family, this drought-resistant succulent does not require high humidity, tolerates irregular watering, and tolerates lack of light well.

The popularity of the flower is evidenced by the existence of a number of signs associated with it. Many believe that his presence in the house brings good luck in financial matters, which is probably why the people call Zamioculcas a dollar tree. It is believed that it contributes to the influx of US currency, perhaps due to the appearance of the leaves, fleshy, green and oblong. Conversely, they say that if the succulent began to hurt, you can expect financial difficulties. There is also a sign that you can’t give a shoot from a flower for nothing, you need to get at least some kind of payment for it.

When breeding a culture at home, it must be borne in mind that, like all members of the aroid family, Zamioculcas is poisonous, or, to be more precise, belongs to conditionally dangerous plants. The juice contained in the leaves can lead to allergic reactions, and if ingested, to intestinal disorders. If this succulent grows in an apartment, standard safety measures should be taken: use gloves when pruning and transplanting, wash hands thoroughly after work, and also keep the flower away from small children and pets.

Zamioculcas flower in the photo

Zamioculcas flowers in the photo

Today, Zamioculcas is at the peak of its popularity. The imposing appearance, slow growth and ease of care have made it fashionable not only among amateur flower growers, but also among professional phytodesigners. A plant grown in tub culture is perfect for landscaping offices, it can decorate any, even the most fashionable interior. In the photos below, zamiokulkas are used as a design element in residential and office premises.

It must be remembered that Zamioculcas is poisonous!

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