The epithet elegans refers to the neat and attractive habit of this species.

Plants acaulescent; stem 15–30 cm diam.; 3–10 leaves in crown. Leaves 110–150 cm long, moderately keeled, with 90–140 pinnae, grey-green, semi-glossy; petiole 20–35 cm long; rachis not to moderately spirally twisted. Basal pinnae not reducing to spines. Median pinnae simple, 22–31 cm long, 9–14 mm wide, strongly discolorous; margins flat to slightly recurved; apex entire, spinescent. Pollen cones narrowly ovoid to fusiform, 16–32 cm long, 6–6.5 cm diam.; microsporophyll lamina 25 mm long, 23 mm wide; apical spine 0–10 mm long. Seed cones ovoid, 24 cm long, 11.5 cm diam.; megasporophyll with an expanded, peltate apex 45–70 mm wide and 25–40 mm long; apical spine 20–55 mm long. Seeds ovoid, 30–32 mm long, 24–26 mm wide; sarcotesta red.

Native,

Endemic. Restricted to a limited area around Mountain Lagoon in the Blue Mountains, N.S.W. Locally common over small areas.

Occurs in dry sclerophyll woodland on undulating to steeply sloping sites on sandstone.

IUCN Red List: Listed as Endangered 2022.

N.S.W.: Cedar Ridge Rd, N of Richmond, K.D. Hill 4458 (BRI, CANB, NSW); 4.7 km E of Mt Lagoon on fire trail, P. Hind 923 (NSW); Grassy Hill, between Colo River and Putty road, 29 Oct. 1954, L.A.S. Johnson & E.F. Constable (NSW); Kurmond, Nov. 1991, P. Kennedy & C. Thompson (NSW).

Distinguished by the bluish grey leaves with a slight or no spiral twist, long petioles and pungent pinnae with orange or red callous bases. Leaves, pinnae, cones and seeds are larger than those of M. spiralis . This species is potentially under threat from habitat destruction and poaching.

See Macrozamia elegans - Pacsoa

Data derived from Flora of Australia Volume 48 (1998), a product of ABRS, ©Commonwealth of Australia