The epithet is from the Latin reductus (reduced) in reference to the overall smaller stature of this species in comparison to M. communis, with which it has been confused in the past.

Plants acaulescent, rarely caulescent; stem 0–0.4 m tall, 20–40 cm diam.; 12–40 leaves in crown. Leaves 70–150 cm long, flat (not keeled) in section, with 75–120 pinnae, pale to mid-green, semi-glossy; petiole 13–30 cm long, 8–20 mm wide at lowest pinna. Basal pinnae reducing to spines. Median pinnae simple, 16–32 cm long, 5–9 mm wide, strongly discolorous; margins flat; apex entire, spinescent. Pollen cones fusiform, 25–33 cm long, 6.5–7.5 cm diam.; microsporophyll lamina 28–33 mm long, 17–22 mm wide; apical spine 2–25 mm long. Seed cones ovoid, 16–23 cm long, 9–12 cm diam.; megasporophyll with an expanded, peltate apex 40–65 mm wide and 15–25 mm long; apical spine 5–70 mm long. Seeds ovoid, 24–30 mm long, 20–26 mm wide; sarcotesta red.

Native.

Endemic. Occurs from the western suburbs of Newcastle west almost to Mudgee, N.S.W. and south to Glen Davis.

Locally abundant in dry sclerophyll woodlands in sandy soils over sandstone on ridges.

N.S.W.: Genowlan Mountain, 11.2 km NE of Capertee, E.F. Constable 5032 (NSW); Coxs Gap, near Kerrabee (Sandy Hollow-Wollar road), 12 Sept. 1948, E.F. Constable (NSW); c. 9.6 km N of Nullo Mountain, 4 Oct. 1965, L.A.S. Johnson ( NSW); 3.6 km E of Kearsley on road from Cessnock to Mt Vincent, R. Ornduff 9545 (NSW).

.

The third member of the M. communis- complex, distinguished by the smaller stature and shorter leaves, with smaller male and female cones and seeds.

See Macrozamia reducta - Pacsoa

See Macrozamia reducta - Pacsoa

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