Cycas

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Leaves and male cone of Cycas revoluta


Plant Characteristics
Origin: ?
Cultivation
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Scientific Names

Cycadaceae >

Cycas >


Cycas is the type genus and the only genus currently recognised in the cycad family Cycadaceae.


Read about Cycas in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Cycadaceae (from the genus Cycas, the Greek name of a certain palm). Cycas Family. Fig. 4. More or less woody plants, with thick, unbranched, columnar or tuberous stem: leaves alternate, pinnate: stamens and carpels borne in cones or in temporarily terminal clusters: scales of the staminate cone bearing very many scattered anthers on the under side: the carpels open, not forming a closed ovary, either leaf-like pinnatifid and bearing marginal ovules, or peltate with 2 or more suspended ovules; the latter very large, often 1 inch long, orthotropous, with 1 integument, becoming drupe-like.

Cycadaceae has 9 genera and about 85 species, distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Zamia is the largest genus, with 30 species. The family stands isolated among the gymnosperms. The palm-like habit, pinnate leaves, very numerous scattered stamens, and, in Cycas, the leaf-like carpel, are distinctive. Differences more important to the morphologist are to be found in the embryology, especially in the fertilization by motile sperm-cells. The leaves are circinate when unfolding, like those of a fern. The Cycadaceae represent an ancient family far more numerous in past geologic ages. Many fossil species are known.

Various species of Cycas in the Moluccas and Japan, especially C. revoluta, yield a sago in the pithy part of the stem which the natives bake into bread. The Hottentots eat the pith of Encephalartos, making from it "Kafir bread.” The seeds of Cycas and Zamia are edible. The leaves of Cycas are used at funerals and church festivals as "palm branches."

Several genera are in cultivation in America for greenhouse use and outdoors in the South. These are Bowenia; Ceratozamia of Mexico; Cycas (Sago Palm) of the far East; Dioon of Mexico; Encephalartos of South Africa; Macrozamia of Australia; Stangeria of South Africa; Zamia (Coontie, Comptie) of tropical America.CH


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


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