Cycad

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• crozier cycas
• false sago
• fern-palm
• queen sago
• Fern cycas
• Fern palm
• Palm-leaved cycas

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cycas squamosa
• Palma polypodiifolia
• Cycas wallichii
• Cycas undulata
• Cycas circinalis var. angustifolia
• Cycas circinalis f. gothanii
• Cycas circinalis f. undulata
• Cycas rumphii f. undulata
• Cycas squarrosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Cycadidae, it is ordered under Cycadales and falls into the family Cycadaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cycas.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to the Indian subcontinent, specifically found within the borders of India. Its natural habitat is primarily concentrated in the southern regions of the country. Within these areas, it thrives in diverse environments ranging from coastal stretches to hilly terrains. Because of this localized presence, it is considered an important indigenous species for the region. Understanding this specific distribution is essential for the conservation of the species in its native land.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cycas circinalis is characterized by its adaptability to diverse topographical gradients, occupying an elevational range that spans from sea level up to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. It thrives in a variety of habitats, ranging from coastal regions to hilly terrains, often favoring well-drained soils in tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests. The species is frequently found in rocky outcrops, scrublands, and deciduous forest understories, where it can tolerate varying levels of light intensity and seasonal moisture fluctuations. Its distribution is heavily influenced by moisture availability and soil composition, as it often colonizes areas with moderate rainfall and high humidity. By occupying this wide elevational niche, the plant plays a crucial role in its local ecosystem, providing specialized niches for various insect pollinators and serving as a structural component of the forest floor across different altitudinal zones.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cycas circinalis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, maintaining a long-lived presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, it develops a robust, woody structure with its photosynthetic organs elevated above the ground, while its specific growth habit can also be categorized under the nanophanerophyte classification depending on the developmental stage and environmental context. The species remains evergreen throughout its life cycle, ensuring continuous foliage and photosynthetic activity across various seasons.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cycas circinalis is characterized by a woody, self-supporting growth form that typically manifests as a shrub or small tree. It is a terrestrial, independent species that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a mean height of approximately 3.5 m, with a maximum growth potential of up to 5 m. Its structure is defined by its woody nature and a self-supporting habit, ensuring stability within its terrestrial habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

3.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cycas circinalis is characterized by several distinct morphological and metabolic adaptations that support its growth in specific ecological niches. A defining feature of its vegetative structure is the development of large, pinnate leaves, which typically exhibit a length ranging from a minimum of 150 cm to a maximum of 250 cm. Unlike many other tropical flora, this species does not demonstrate succulence, meaning it lacks specialized fleshy tissues for significant water storage within its leaves. Furthermore, the plant possesses a specialized metabolic capability for nitrogen fixation; it maintains a symbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria hosted within specialized coralloid roots, allowing it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, thereby enhancing its nutrient uptake and survival in nitrogen-deficient soils.

Leaf length max:

250 cm

Leaf length min:

150 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cycas circinalis is characterized by specialized biological mechanisms and specific morphological traits of its seeds. The plant exhibits a lack of self-fertilization, meaning that the process of self-fertilization is absent, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. Pollination is primarily mediated through an insect pollination syndrome. Once fertilization occurs, the resulting seeds are substantial in size, maintaining a consistent seed mass where the minimum, mean, and maximum values are all recorded at 25 g. These seeds vary in dimension, with a seed length ranging from a minimum of 25 mm to a maximum of 38 mm. The dispersal of these seeds is facilitated by multiple mechanisms, categorized under both hydrochorous and anthropochorous dispersal syndromes, indicating that they can be spread via water currents or through human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Seed length max:

38 mm

Seed length min:

25 mm

Seed mass mean:

25 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cycas circinalis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed.

Leaf

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Seed

1. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Cycas circinalis has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Amentoflavone, Gallic acid, Gibberellin A4, Withaferin A, ellagic acid.

Amentoflavone

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Gallic acid

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Gibberellin A4

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Withaferin A

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

ellagic acid

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

kaempferol

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Medicinal Uses

Cycas circinalis has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include diabetes mellitus.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations