Cycads of the Sand: The Beach-dwelling Zamias of Bocas del Toro, Panama Article and Photos by Greg Holzman1 & Jody Haynes2 Our primary goal was to assess the discovered and named more than 150 habitat, morphology, ecology, phenolo- years ago, it is remarkable that it is still gy, and conservation status of as many island populations as possible. Soil sam- ples were to be taken and cones col- lected. What we discovered at one locality were perfect white sand beach- es with literally tens of thousands of Zamia “trees” growing on them—in areas where waves are known to roll right through the populations three or Fig. 1. Map of Bocas del Toro showing the major islands and place names on the main- four times a year and where winds blow land (after Fig. 1a of Anderson & Handley, 20-30 knots onshore, sending salt spray 2002; used with permission). up the hills behind the beaches. Some- times dreams do come true…and in this Cycad expeditions tend to take on a case, success was in every step we left life of their own once the players com- on those beaches! mit to the objective. This year the ob- This is the story of the cycads of jective was to assess populations of the the sand… Zamia skinneri/Z. neurophyllidia com- plex of western Panama. Misunderstood Overview of the and mysterious, these plants are among “Groove-leaved” Zamias the most beautiful and wondrous of all Central American cycads. The genus Zamia currently contains Jody Haynes, Gregg Hamann, and seven named species with veins that are Greg Holzman were to meet up with Dr. prominently sunken on the upper sur- Alberto Taylor of the University of Pana- face of the leaflets and protruding be- ma on an expedition sponsored by the low, resulting in a corrugated appear- Montgomery Botanical Center(MBC) to ance and texture that is technically investigate reports of cycads growing on referred to as “plicate.” Two of these beaches and near salt water on several “groove-leaved” zamias, Z. amplifolia islands in the Bocas del Toro Archipela- hort. Bull ex Mast. (1878) and Z. wallisii go. None of us had ever seen a refer- A. Braun (1875), are Colombian endem- ence to salt tolerance in Z. neurophyl- ics, while Z. roezlii Linden (1873) occurs lidia or Z. skinneri, yet these were the in Colombia and adjacent Ecuador, and only cycads known in that part of Pana- Z. urep Walln. (1996) is restricted to Fig. 3. Female (A) and male (B) cones of Zamia ma. The idea that an arborescent cycad central Peru. The other three repre- neurophyllidia at Wizard Beach. could be growing on a Caribbean island’s sent a group of closely-related species white sand beach was just too enticing from Panama (and possibly Costa Rica?), to resist a look! the oldest known being Z. skinneri After months of extensive and care- Warsz. ex Dietrich (1851) and the newest ful planning, we set out to Bocas del named species being Z. dressleri D.W. Toro during a time of the year when we Stev. (1993) and Z. neurophyllidia D.W. hoped the weather would allow us to Stev. (1993). Even though Z. skinneri was reach our stated island objectives. It rains most of the year in this part of the world, and strong winds can create horrendous sea conditions. None of us wanted any part of rainy and stormy oceans, so the timing of the expedition was selected with help from Gregg, who has sailed the area often, and from Capt. Louis Anciaux, owner and opera- tor of Panama Jet Boat Explorer and new inductee into the wonderful world of cycads. Weather was never a problem for us; instead, we were blessed with Fig. 2. Gregg Hamann (left) and the first the best conditions of the year—light author (right) try to contain their excitement Fig. 4. The authors (left and right, respective- in the midst of the Zamia neurophyllidia colony ly) and Gregg Hamann (center) next to a 4 m winds and no rain—for the entire 10-day on Playa Primera (a.k.a., Wizard Beach), Isla specimen of Zamia neurophyllidia at Wizard trip. Bastimentos, Panama. Beach. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 1 Greg is the owner of Pacific Cycad Nursery on Kauai, HI, USA, and was recently elected to TCS board of directors. 2 Jody is the Cycad Biologist at Montgomery Botanical Center (MBC) in Miami, Florida, and is TCS secretary. The Cycad Newsletter Page 3 so incompletely known (Whitelock, smaller islets (Fig. 1). Isla Bastimentos is Both female and male cones were 2002). Unfortunately, rather than clarify the third largest island, measuring ap- present, but not in great quantities, the confusion, the paper that described proximately 52 km2. It and Isla Colón though there were literally thousands of the two newest species in this group guard the mouth of a large bay, Laguna zamias in this one colony! (Stevenson, 1993) and other subsequent de Chiriquí, containing the four other We were elated over our “find” until reports have contributed to it. main islands—Isla Popa, Isla San Cristóbal, we came upon the second sign of cycad The Central American “groove- Cayo Nancy, and Cayo Agua. This island destruction. A large house was in the leafed” zamias are often confused, par- group is geologically recent, having ticularly in cultivation and especially as been formed by sea level rise beginning seedlings. The following brief descrip- around 5,200 ybp (Isla Colón) and con- tions of the three species were com- tinuing until around 1,000 ybp (Isla Popa piled from Whitelock (2002), A. Taylor and Isla San Cristóbal) (Anderson & Han- (pers. comm.), and personal observa- dley, 2002). tions. Bastimentos was definitely our favor- ite island in the group. As mere visitors, The “true” Z. skinneri, as it is often called, is we were enveloped in its charm the arborescent with trunks to 2+ m tall, and has minute we stepped off the water taxi. broad leaflets (to 50+ cm long by 20+ cm wide) and red-emergent leaves to 2 m in length; adult The inhabitants of Bastimentos are of plants in habitat typically hold 3-6 leaves; female African descent and are remnants of cones densely red-brown tomentose and quite the banana trade that dominated the Fig. 5. Leaf spot fungus, possibly Mycoleptodis- large, measuring 20-40 cm long, 8-12 cm in th cus indicus, on a plant at Wizard Beach. diameter, with a peduncle 2-7 cm long; male area in the early 20 century. They now cones usually number 1-4, are red-brown tomen- make their living as subsistence farmers tose, and measure 4-15 cm long, 1-2.5 cm in and fishermen, or from the tourism that diameter, with a peduncle 2-12 cm long. is slowly making its way to their idyllic Seedlings and juveniles of Z. dressleri are tropical paradise. sometimes confused with Z. skinneri because of There are no roads on Bastimentos— their relatively large leaflets (although not as which means no cars either, only walk- broad as Z. skinneri) and red-emergent leaves, but the former species is completely acaulescent ways and boats for transportation—and and usually holds only a single erect leaf (rarely we found this very calming upon our two to three leaves) in habitat; female cones are arrival to the island. For years, Basti- relatively small, wine-red to rust-red tomentose, mentos has been a backpacker’s low-key 10-15 cm long, 3-4 cm in diam., with peduncles 4- 6 cm long; male cones usually solitary, cream to getaway. Unfortunately, developers have rust-red colored, 5-8 cm long, 1-2 cm in diam., recently made their way to the island with a prominently pointed apex (not found in and now see money to be made in sub- the other two species) and peduncle 3 cm long. dividing the land, especially the beaches Zamia neurophyllidia is similar to Z. skinneri along the northern side of the island. in stature, being arborescent with trunks over 2m tall, but the leaves are green emergent, the Population Characteristics leaflets are much smaller and typically more numerous, and mature plants in habitat often After a 20-minute walk through a hold 20 or more leaves; female cones tan to cemetery and past several houses on greenish brown, are often covered with brown top of the island (located on a hill that to reddish-brown tomentum, may be erect to leaning or pendulous at maturity, and measure separates the south side, where the 21-27cm long, 6.5-7.5cm diam., with peduncle 7.5- islanders prefer the protection from the 20cm long (much longer than the other two unforgiving Caribbean waters, from the species); male cones 2-10 in number, cream or much harsher north side), we reached light brown in color, 8-9cm long, 1.5-2.0cm diam., peduncle 5.5-7.0cm long. our destination: Playa Primera (also known as Wizard Beach), a white sand Zamia neurophyllidia is by far the most beach half a mile long adjacent to the common of the three species in cultiva- most inviting aquamarine Caribbean tion, with Z. skinneri and Z. dressleri water one could ever hope to see. following at a far distant second and Shaded by large trees was a low-lying third, respectively. Ironically, with but a beach strand vegetation, just above the few exceptions, published reports and high-tide line containing what could unpublished anecdotes suggest that Z. only be described as a “lawn” of Z. neurophyllidia is the most difficult of neurophyllidia seedlings and small plants the three species to grow in cultivation.