What kind of plant is Cycas? What are the characteristics of Cycas' appearance?

Cycas revoluta, commonly known as the iron tree, is named after its high wood density, which makes it sink as soon as it enters the water, and is as heavy as iron. Another theory is that it is named after the fact that it requires a large amount of iron to grow. It is now widely distributed in countries such as China, Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. It is evergreen all year round and is a precious ornamental tree species. Many friends don't know much about it, so let's take a look at the introduction of Encyclopedia Knowledge Network!

Contents of this article

1. What kind of plant is Cycas revoluta?

2. What are the characteristics of the appearance of Cycas revoluta?

3. Can the fruit of cycad be eaten?

What is a cycad plant?

Cycas revoluta, commonly known as the iron tree, is an ornamental tree species of the Cycadaceae family, now widely distributed in China, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and other countries. It has an elegant tree shape, a thick trunk, and is as hard as iron; its feathery leaves are clean, smooth, and shiny, and are evergreen all year round. In the south, it is often planted beside the steps in front of the courtyard and in the lawn; in the north, it is suitable for large potted plants to decorate the courtyard, corridors, and halls, which is very beautiful. The flower language of Cycas revoluta is "unyielding, strong and persistent, longevity, wealth, and good luck."

What are the characteristics of Cycas revoluta's appearance?

Cycads are evergreen palm woody plants, which are described as follows:

Cycas has a thick, dark brown stem, deep pinnate leaves, thick leathery and hard, and pinnae in strips and spiral arrangement. The top of the stem is clustered with large pinnate compound leaves, shaped like a phoenix tail, so it is also called Phoenix Tail Banana. There are several herbarium bundles on the back, with green edges that are significantly curled. It is dioecious, and the flowers are solitary at the top of the branches. The male cones are oblong, the microsporophyll is woody, flat and scaly or shield-shaped, and the female cones are slightly oblate. The megasporophyll is broadly ovate, pinnately fissured, and densely covered with yellow-brown cotton hairs. The seeds are red and ovate, slightly flat. The flowering period is from June to August, and the flowers and fruits mature in October. Common cultivated ornamental species of the same genus include South China Cycas, Yunnan Cycas, and Panzhihua Cycas.

Can the fruit of cycad be eaten?

The fruit of cycads cannot be eaten. Cycad fruit contains a large amount of natural cycad glycosides, which can cause discomfort to the human body and cannot be eaten. Cycads, commonly known as iron trees, are said to be named because of their high wood density, which makes them sink as soon as they enter water, and are as heavy as iron; another theory is that they are named because they require a large amount of iron to grow. They are now widely distributed in countries such as China, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia. The cycad tree has an elegant shape, a thick trunk, and is as hard as iron; its feathery leaves are clean, smooth and shiny, and are evergreen all year round. It is a precious ornamental tree species.

Cycads:

Cycas is dioecious, with different flower shapes. Male flowers are oblong, standing upright among the green feathery leaves, and are yellow-brown; female flowers are oblate, light yellow, and close to the top of the stem. The flowering period is from June to August. Cycas prefers warm, hot and humid environments, is not cold-resistant, grows very slowly, and has a lifespan of about 200 years. In tropical and subtropical southern China, trees over 10 years old bloom and bear fruit almost every year, while cycas cultivated in the Yangtze River Basin and various parts of the north often do not bloom throughout their lives, or bloom and bear fruit occasionally.