PhoeniCycas revoluta Thunb.
Cica
Scientific name: Cycas revoluta Thunb.
Family: Cycadaceae
Origin: Japan
Year planted: 1960
Flowering: May – July
Phoenix-theophrasti
Description
Japanese sago palms are similar to palm trees, but they are smaller and older, and there are more than 200 different species. Cycas revoluta is bushy and smaller than other cycads, branching out from the sides as adults. Like most cycads, it is a dioecious plant: there are male and female specimens.
It can reach 8 meters in height, and its leaves up to 1.5 meters in length. It is sturdy and thorny. The flowers are born in groups (inflorescence): in male specimens they are cone-shaped, pale yellow in color and have a smell reminiscent of pineapple.
In female specimens, the flowers are golden or brown. The seeds, 4 to 5 centimeters long, sprout from the female flowers and are orange or red.
Marimurtra’s specimen
The oldest cycad in the Marimurtra botanical garden is more than 100 years old. It was brought by Dr. Werner Marten from Barcelona in 1960. It is 3 meters high and has several branches. Before, it was planted in the second garden
Did you know…?
Cycads grow very slowly: some species take more than 100 years to grow 1 meter. Most have toxic leaves to defend themselves against herbivorous animals.
Threat level (UICN)
Main uses
Raunkiaer Life Forms
