Focus on Flora and Fauna

This is the fruit of a plant called Macrozamia mountperriensis. It is found in the Burnett Mary region. Macrozamias belong to an ancient group of plants known as cycads. These plants are sometimes described as living fossils, as they were common during the Jurassic period, over 144 Million years ago. There are 25 species of Macrozamia in Australia and they are endemic – found nowhere else in the world The fruit might look a little bit like a pineapple, but in fact the seeds are toxic and have caused deaths in people and livestock. Aborigines were able to eat the seeds after treating them by leaching, pounding and cooking.