Cycad Crested

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Cycad (lat. Cycas pectinata) - tree-like oldest evergreen plant

genus Cycad (lat. Cycas) family Cycadaceae (Latin Cycadaceae). The modern homeland of the plant is the countries of Southeast Asia. Young leaves and seeds of Cycadus are used by local residents for food, and the crushed fleshy stem of the plant is used for hygienic purposes. Female microsporophylls are believed to enhance male sexual activity. Cycad, with spectacular feathery leaves, is grown as an ornamental plant. Cycad is one of the most common species among almost a hundred species of representatives of the genus Cycad.

Where does Cycadus crested currently grow?

Cycad was the fourth species in the genus Cycad, described by botanists. Its description belongs to a Scottish surgeon and botanist named Francis Buchanan-Hamilton (1762-15-02 - 1829-15-06), who was studying the flora of the northeastern part of India, where Cycadus cephaus currently grows in the wild. In addition to India, this species is found in Nepal, Vietnam and Laos, in the northern regions of Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Burma, Bangladesh, Bhutan, southern China and northern Burma. And in the warm Jurassic period, which ended one hundred twenty-five million years ago, it grew almost everywhere, and various dinosaurs roamed next to the plant.

In our era, Cycadus comb chooses places that are inaccessible to humans for its life, preferring to grow at an altitude of three hundred to one thousand two hundred meters.

Description

The oldest inhabitant of our planet, Cycadus crested, is a dioecious plant. It grows slowly, but it can reach a height of twelve meters. The tallest is the female growing in India, whose height is sixteen meters.

A woody trunk is gradually formed from the stems of the leaves, protected by a strong shell from the remains of the bases of dying leaves. At the top of the woody trunk is a crown of dark green feathery leaves from one to two meters long. The stems, on which the evergreen leaves are located, are strong, bare at the base. Spectacular large leaves resemble Palm leaves, which is why Cycads are often called Palms among the people.

Plants are very simple in structure and are an intermediate link between ferns, which reproduce with the help of spores, and the plants we are accustomed to. They are divided into males and females. Males are crowned, as a rule, with large cylindrical-ovoid cones, which are collected by traditional healers for the preparation of medicines. When mature, the cones are yellowish or orange in color.

Megasporophiles (a modified leaf on which spores form) of females are deeply scalloped and densely covered with hairs, which makes them look gray-tomentose.

Usage

Spectacular Cycadus is a very popular plant used by landscape designers to decorate resort towns in Southeast Asia. They are used to decorate streets, hotel gardens, and even grow in large flower pots, which are placed both outdoors and indoors.

Mature leaves are used to decorate a large number of temporary shrines that are erected to worship the gods during religious holidays. They make bouquets from the leaves.

In some regions of Southeast Asia, young leaves are used in cooking as vegetables. Seeds containing starch are eaten raw or fried by the indigenous population.

Microsporophylls (spore-bearing leaves) treat stomach pains and ulcers by simply chewing them raw. Eaten young microsporophylls are believed to enhance sexual activity in men.

The fleshy stems of the plant are crushed and used in hair washing to strengthen, grow and beauty.