Zamia fairchildiana

The stem of Zamia fairchildiana is erect (tree-like), 0.5 to 1 metre (1 ft 8 in to 3 ft 3 in) tall, and 6 to 15 centimetres (2.4 to 5.9 in) in diameter. It has three to ten compound-leaves on the apex of the stem. Leaves are 0.7 to 2 metres (2 ft 4 in to 6 ft 7 in) (exceptionally 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in)) long. Petioles (leaf stalks) are 0.3 to 0.5 metres (1 ft 0 in to 1 ft 8 in) (exceptionally 0.8 metres (2 ft 7 in)) long and densely covered with prickles. The lower third of the rachis (leaf mid-rib) also has prickles. There are 10 to 30 pairs of leaflets on a leaf. The leaflets are oblong, somewhat sickle shaped, with acute points, and have a few fine teeth near the tip of the leaflet. Like all cycads, Zamia fairchildiana is dioecious, with individual plants being either male or female. Male strobili (cones) are cylindrical, 10 to 40 centimetres (3.9 to 15.7 in) long and 2 to 5 centimetres (0.79 to 1.97 in) in diameter, and cream to yellow in color. Female strobili are cylindrical, 20 to 30 centimetres (7.9 to 11.8 in) long and 6 to 10 centimetres (2.4 to 3.9 in) in diameter, and yellow-green to light brown in color. Seeds are ovoid, 1 to 1.5 centimetres (0.39 to 0.59 in) long, and red in color.

The type site for Zamia fairchildiana is in Costa Rica, It is reported to be abundant around the Golfo Duce in Puntarenas Province on the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. A small population of Zamia fairchildiana is in Chiriquí Province in Panama. It is found in rainforests with about 5,000 millimetres (200 in) of average annual rainfall.

Unlike some species of Zamia, most Zamia fairchildiana plants produce reproductive cones even when growing in shade. Ripe seeds are visible in Z. fairchildiana female cones before the cones start breaking down, in contrast to seeds of Z. elegantissima, which are not visible until cones do break down.

The epithet fairchildiana, refers to either the botanist David Fairchild, or his son, the entomologist A. G. B. "Sandy" Fairchild.