Zamia is a member of the cycad family. It grows in the hill country here in the Valley and is a danger to cattle. If eaten the toxins in the plant cause the cattle brain damage and they lose the use of their legs - we call it "the staggers". The poor things never recover. Our only line of defence is to fence off paddocks containing plants. This is a male of the species. Last years cone can be seen drooping to the left. Beside its base a brand new cone for this year is just emerging. The female plants produce a low, round centre growth which is surrounded by big orange seeds which await direct fertilisation from the pollen falling from the tall male cones. These zamia plants are growing on the pathway to the school and my students undertook a detailed study of this process when we first observed the two different types of "flowers" on the plants.
This has been a wonderful series, Margaret! I never knew how much science there was in ranching until my son took a college course on grasses. I used to teach about Henry David Thoreau, and he cataloged over 100 grasses at Heywood's Meadow near Walden Pond. He said the meadow was the perfect classroom for his elementary school aged students.
I'm sorry to see your ABC series come to an end. I have a nice collection of alphabet books, all with specific themes. I would love to have yours for the Australian theme.
@cejaanderson my aunt was my primary school teacher and we did a study of grass seeds. I still remember it I wish we'd kept the samples because I know a couple of favourite ones that I no longer see 60 yrs later.
@ethelperry@busylady that you Judith and Perry fair for your interest. It's been good to have a focus for each day. I'm sorry I'm at the end. What to do next? I've a few days up my sleeve before June starts.
