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PLANT OF THE WEEK

Cycas revoluta SAGO PALM

Did you know that the term Gymnosperm that’s used to classify or define conifers or pine trees and cycads means naked seed?

That’s because the seed doesn’t come from a flower because conifers don’t have flowers but the seeds develop on the surface of the pine cones, which is the reproductive structure.

Cycas revoluta; Sago Palm

That’s how plants evolved around 200 million years ago.

This plant doesn’t have flowers either but it’s not a conifer.

Let’s find out more with the plant panel:Karen Smith, editor of Hort Journal www.hortjournal.com.au  and Jeremy Critchley, The Green Gallery wholesale nursery owner. www.thegreengallery.com.au

PLAY: Cycas revoluta_17th August_2016

The leaves are a deep semiglossy green and about 50–150 cm  long when the plants are at the cone bearing stage.

Cycas revoluta

They grow out into a feather-like rosette to 1 m in diameter. T

he crowded, stiff, narrow leaflets are 20 cm long and have strongly recurved or revolute edges hence the latin species name of  Cycas revoluta.

Of all the cycads, Cycas revoluta is the most popular in gardens and parks.

It’s called Sago Palm but it has no links to actual palms which are flowering plants and therefore Angiosperms.

It’s seen in almost all botanical gardens, in both temperate and tropical locations.

In many areas of the world, it is heavily promoted commercially as a landscape plan.