macrozamia
- noun
- /ˌmækroʊˈzeɪmiə/
- Specialized
- The seeds of the macrozamia are sometimes used as bush food by Indigenous Australians.
Examples
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After the fire, the ancient macrozamia sprouted fresh growth from its trunk.
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A macrozamia stands tall with its spiky leaves and large, impressive cones.
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A macrozamia can be recognized by its stiff, glossy leaves and massive cones.
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Look at that macrozamia!
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The macrozamia is beautiful.
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Indigenous Australians have traditionally used the seeds of macrozamia as a food source.
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You can often find a macrozamia thriving in the dry Australian landscape.
Compounds
- Specialized
A large plant like a palm with stiff shiny leaves that grows in eastern Australia
Surface Forms
Morphology
macrozamia = Zamia (semi-transparent) = macro + zamia
The form is built from the combining form 'macro-' meaning 'large' plus 'Zamia', but the botanical genus name is specialized and not fully predictable for many learners.
Etymology
Macrozamia joins the part macro- ('large') with Zamia, a plant name for a type of cycad, so it literally means a 'large Zamia'. That's why macrozamia is used for big, tree-like cycads with thick trunks and large cones.