Common name: Sago Palm, King Sago

Botanical name: Cycas revoluta - [ (SY-kas) from the Greek kukas, an erroneous reading of koikas, a kind of palm tree; (re-vo-LOO-tuh) rolled back from margins or apex ] Synonyms: Cycas miquelii Warb. • Cycas revoluta var. brevifrons Miq. • Cycas revoluta var. planifolia Miq. • Cycas revoluta var. prolifera Siebold and Zucc. • Cycas revoluta var. robusta Messeri Family: Cycadaceae (cycad family)

Origin: Japan, South China

Cycas is the type genus and the only genus currently recognised in the cycad family Cycadaceae. About 95 species are currently accepted.

The best-known species is Cycas revoluta, widely cultivated under the name "Sago Palm" or "King Sago Palm" due to its palm-like appearance although it is not a true palm. The generic name comes from Greek kykas and means "palm tree".

This is one of the most primitive living seed plants, very unusual and popular ornamental. A rugged trunk, topped with whorled feathery leaves has lead to the common name "Sago Palm", however it is actually related to conifer and Ginko trees - all cone bearing plants which trace their origins back to the ancient flora of the early Mesozoic era. Often called "living fossils", Cycads have changed very little in the last 200 million years.

King Sago Palm is not a palm at all, but a type of gymnosperm. This very symmetrical plant supports a crown of shiny, dark green leaves on a thick shaggy trunk that is typically about 20 cm in diameter, sometimes wider. The trunk is very low to subterranean in young plants, but lengthens above ground with age.

It can grow into very old specimens with 6-7 m of trunk, however, the plant is very slow-growing and requires about 50-100 years to achieve this height. Trunks can branch multiple times, thus producing multiple heads of leaves.

Courtesy: - Top Tropicals - Dave's Garden - ZipCode Zoo - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia