What are the characteristics of cycads?
Cycads are gymnosperms distinguished by crowns of large pinnately compound leaves and by cones, which are typically borne at the end of the trunk in the centre of whorled branches. Some cycads have tall unbranched trunks with an armourlike appearance; others have partially buried stems with swollen (tuberous) trunks.
What toxins are in cycads?
Cycad seeds contain the toxic compounds cycasin (0.2–0.3%; Figure 14.1) and neocycasin (methylazoxymethanol β-D-glycosides), which are unique toxins present in cycad species (DeLuca et al., 1980). These azoxyglucosides are glycosides of the same aglycone, methylazoxymethanol.
What are the characteristics of Cycadaceae family?
The Cycadaceae are readily distinguished in consisting of dioecious trees or perennial herbs, having trunks or subterranean stems, with large, coriaceous, evergreen, pinnate leaves (vernation involute circinate), and large, determinate pollen cones, the ovulate reproductive structures not organized as cones, consisting …
What is so special about cycads?
Cycads certainly have a distinctive appearance which is related to their primitiveness or antiquity. Within the living seed plants they are nearly unique in that they produce motile sperm cells, and thus are an important link to the earliest of the ancient seed plants.
How many characteristics does cycad have?
Cycads are woody plants that have existed for 125 million years.
How do you identify a cycad?
Stems have spirals of relatively smooth diamond-shaped leaf scars. Cycads produce cones. If they have the above characters and a cone, the plant is a cycad.
How toxic is cycasin?
Most parts of the plant are toxic, but the seeds contain a higher concentration of cycasin. Clinical signs include vomiting and diarrhea, lethargy, depression, liver failure, coagulopathy, and death. Neurologic signs, such as weakness, ataxia, seizures, and coma, may also be seen. There is no specific antidote.
What does cycasin do to the body?
Cycasin is a carcinogenic and neurotoxic glucoside found in cycads such as Cycas revoluta and Zamia pumila. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, seizures, and hepatotoxicity.
What are the economic importance of gymnosperms?
Gymnosperms are a good source of food. Seeds of these non-flowering plants are widely used as an edible species, used for producing various food products. These plant species include: ginko, pinus, cycas, etc. A few species of gymnosperms are a good source of starch and are also used in the production of sago.
What is the difference between cycad and Cycas?
Cycas is the type genus and the only genus recognised in the family Cycadaceae. About 113 species are accepted. Cycas circinalis, a species endemic to India, was the first cycad species to be described in western literature, and was the type of the generic name, Cycas. The best-known Cycas species is Cycas revoluta.
Can you eat cycad fruit?
Symptoms: If eaten, the raw fruit may cause headache and severe gastro-intestinal irritation including stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In a very few severe cases, liver damage, coma and death have been reported.
What is difference between cycad and sago palm?
Answer: It is indeed a sexual difference. Sago palms (Cycas revoluta) are not true palms, although they closely resemble them. Palms are flowering plants (angiosperms), while sagos are gymnosperms and are more closely related to conifers, such as pines and bald cypresses.
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