Cycad

Cycad Facts

• Perhaps most notably of all, the Cycad forms a Family of seed plants whose origins go all the way back to the Permian Era. More precisely, and quite amazingly, the Cycad appears to have evolved roughly 280 million years ago. Furthermore, although the various varieties bear a physical resemblance to palms, these in reality represent a distinctly different family.
• Further, numerous species related to this fantastic group of plants once remained highly prevalent throughout the world. Currently, however, botanists only recognize a total of 305 species comprising this amazing and quite unique Family. Amazingly, though, the various forms appear to be relatively unchanged by evolution through the ages.
• Additionally, many non-professionals often confuse the many types of Cycad with various palms. This confusion principally occurs due to a surprising superficial resemblance between the two groups. But in reality, the two remain quite different from each other. To a great many researchers, this purely coincidental external resemblance represents an excellent example of convergent evolution.
• Sadly, however, roughly 38% of the members of this remarkable group presently appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This regrettable status occurs for a variety of reasons for different species. Habitat loss due to human encroachment on the natural range of the plants plays a pivotal role for many. However, climate change now comprises a key threat to all of them.

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Cycad Physical Description

Firstly, given the sheer number of differing plants qualifying as a Cycad, physical differences quite understandably exist. Secondly, what’s surprising is that they are not more different from each other than they are. For one thing, the differing forms comprising the Family develop in a rather wide variety of shapes, sizes, and appearances.

Nevertheless, the different plants all have many things in common, as one would naturally expect to be the case. Physical size, however, does not rank among the many shared physical traits. That’s because some of them measure no more than 1 in (2.5 cm) in height. Meanwhile, other varieties of Cycad reach heights of more than 10 ft (3 m).

But, one of the things that all of them do share is the structure of the trunk. First, that holds true because of the fact that all known types possess a relatively thick trunk. Secondly, this trunk does not branch at all. The structure does, however, most typically develop a crown of relatively large pinnate leaves. These always stay evergreen in nature and grow directly from the trunk itself.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Cycadophyta
• Class: Cycadopsida
• Order: Cycadales
• Family: Cycadaceae

Cycad Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Since the term Cycad applies to an entire Family of vascular plants, the native range understandably remains quite extensive. In fact, the greatest concentration of the numerous types appears in Central America and South America. Yet members of the Family also appear in such regions as Mexico and the United States, in North America, as well as China and Madagascar, among many others.

In all parts of the world these plants appear in, though, they show a decided preference for certain climates. That’s because the only regions this Family appears in are tropical and subtropical areas. Furthermore, the majority of varieties thrive in hot, warm conditions. This remains especially true of regions consisting largely of tropical rainforests. That’s because a total of 65 species occur in tropical portions of Africa.

However, the Cycad never ceases to amaze us. That’s because it displays remarkable adaptability in some respects. That’s because some varieties appear only in desert environments. Furthermore, a few species appear to be adaptable enough to thrive in both of these climates. But it does not stop there. This holds true due to the fact that a few species even manage to grow on rocky outcroppings and in swamps.

Also, all species within this incredible Family have a dioecious nature. In addition, in terms of its reproductive strategy, all members of the group represent gymnopserms. Most varieties achieve pollination via the activities of various beetles. In fact, quite often a specific species of beetle pollinates only one particular form of Cycad. Finally, all known varieties of this plant typically grow very slowly. They also tend to be very long-lived. Some species live for as long as 1,000 years.

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