Cycas beddomei
Cycas beddomei, commonly known as Beddome's Cycad, is a critically endangered gymnosperm endemic to the Eastern Ghats of India. While primarily valued for its unique evolutionary significance and biodiversity, this rare plant holds potential in traditional ethnobotany, representing a vital, yet fragile, component of India's natural medicinal heritage.
- Scientific name: Cycas beddomei
- Family: Cycadaceae
- Native range: Asia-Tropical
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Cycadidae and the order Cycadales, falling into the family Cycadaceae. Ultimately, Cycas beddomei is categorized under the genus Cycas.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Cycadidae | WCVP |
| Order | Cycadales | WCVP |
| Family | Cycadaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cycas | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Cycas beddomei, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Simplified Chinese, it is called 印度苏铁 (zh-hans), while in Traditional Chinese formats used in mainland China (zh), Taiwan (zh-hant), and Hong Kong (zh-hk), it is identified as 印度蘇鐵. In Czech, the plant is known as cykas Beddomův (cs).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 印度苏铁 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 印度蘇鐵 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 印度蘇鐵 | Wikidata |
| cs | cykas Beddomův | Wikidata |
| zh | 印度蘇鐵 | Wikidata |
| bg | бедомев цикас | Wikidata |
| zh | 印度苏铁 | Wikidata |
| zh | 贝德姆苏铁 | Wikidata |
| zh | 安得拉苏铁 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is a rare species with a very limited geographical range. It is found exclusively within the Indian Subcontinent. Specifically, its distribution is restricted to certain regions in India. Because of this narrow habitat, it is considered an endemic species to the country. Protecting its specific natural environment is essential for its survival in the wild.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Cycas beddomei, is a rare gymnosperm characterized by a distinctive morphological structure, particularly in its stems. The stems are typically robust, woody, and cylindrical, often remaining partially or entirely covered by the persistent, weathered bases of old leaf stalks. These stems serve as the primary structural support for the plant, housing the vascular tissues necessary to transport nutrients and water to the large, pinnate leaves that emerge from the apical meristem.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cycas beddomei has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Hypoglycemic, Purgative.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Purgative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |