Zanzibar Gem
(zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Common name
Zig Zag, ZZ
Description
One of the most successful and hearty plants available. The Zig Zag can survive on very little water; it has large flesh bulbous roots that can hold moisture for considerable periods of time.
Its fleshy, high gloss foliage and thick stems give it a very lush appearance and enable this variety to stand alone as a feature despite only reaching about 700mm height. They are most affective in a large wedge shaped pot but work well in any situation or planter type.
Some sources report that all parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested, but a number of others claim that this is a myth. They contain calcium oxalate. Needle-like calcium oxalate crystals that could irritate different sensitive skin parts, mucosa, or conjunctiva.
Initial toxicological experiment conducted by the University of Bergen in 2015 on extracts from Z. zamiifolia using brine shrimp as a lethality assay did not indicate lethality to the shrimps even at concentrations of extracts up to 1 mg/mL providing disproving evidence for the assumption of Z. zamiifolia's toxic character. The scientists conducting the experiment found that "On the contrary, it could appear as though the extract contributed to improvements in the vitality of the larvae".
Size
Small, Medium, Large
Light requirement
low - high
