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Uses: It is widely used in landscaping. The stems store a starch which has been used as food especially during times of famine. However, toxic compounds produced by the plant must be removed before eating. The toxin is a neurotoxin which can cause paralysis and death. |
| Notes: This is a very slow growing plant, growing only 10-12 feet in 50 years. An old plant can be worth thousands of dollars as an ornamental. Some very old specimens have been estimated to be 2500 years old. Cycads were among the most prevalent plants during the age of the dinosaurs. |  |
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Recent studies have shown that cycads are not entirely wind pollinated, as was originally assumed. Some pollination is done by beetles, like the one in the photo above. |