Cycadaceae
Cycadaceae are gymnosperms plants, members of fossil forms that existed during the Mesozoic period. The Sago palms are one of the first inhabitants of mainland due to their way of propagation – a process that does not depend on water.After a turbulent development at the end of the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic periods the mass extinction of cycas took place in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. All today living 95 species of cycas plants a significant part of them are endangered by extinction. They grow in South and Central America, Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia.
The represent plants with well developed upright wood stem and evergreen pinnate usually very hard and thorny leaves. They grow extremely slowly – in a vegetation period they usually grow just one ring of flowers and the lowest ring dies off. The plants are dioecious– with male and female specimens. Therefore, to grow seeds there should be simultaneously blooming male and female plants. The male plants form inflorescences that resemble an upright cone with the smell of pineapple fruit. The inflorescences consist of a rosette of brown leaves covered with thick moss.
Cycas have insignificant economic importance. From some members is derived a rich in carbohydrates wood-pulp called “сагу”that is used as food.