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Cycads have been reported to fix nitrogen in association with various cyanobacteria living in the roots (the "coralloid" roots). [4] These photosynthetic bacteria produce a neurotoxin called BMAA that is found in the seeds of cycads. This neurotoxin may enter a human food chain as the cycad seeds may be eaten directly as a source of flour by ...
The male cycad develops 1 to 5 male cones, each cone measuring 12 cm to 28 cm in length and 4 cm to 7 cm in diameter. These cones are fusiform but curve with age and remain green throughout its lifetime. The female cycad develops 1 to 3 female cones, each cone measuring 25 cm to 40 cm in length and 10 cm to 15 cm in diameter. The female cone ...
The pollen cone scales have a sharp apical spine. The ovulate cones are composed of overlapping, yellow, hairy megasporophylls, each 29—32 centimeters long, with 5-13 marginal teeth per side, and bearing 4-10 ovules along their edges. The seeds are ovoid, 50—60 millimeters in size with a red-brown fleshy seed coat, and a spongy endocarp ...
The cylindrical cones are some of the largest of all cycad cones, rivalled only by Encephalartos transvenosus. [4] The male cones can reach seventy five centimetres long and the female cones ninety centimetres, weighing up to forty five kilograms. [4] The seeds are large and numerous and have red sarcotesta. [2]
Like other cycads, Z. pumila is dioecious, having male or female plants. The male cones are cylindrical, growing to 3–15 cm long; they are often clustered. The female cones are elongate-ovoid and grow to 6–15 cm long and 4–6 cm in diameter. Pollination is done by certain insects, namely the cycad weevil Rhopalotria slossoni.
Some cycads, such as this Macrozamia communis, produce seeds with a sarcotesta. The sarcotesta is a fleshy seedcoat, [1] a type of testa. Examples of seeds with a sarcotesta are pomegranate and some cycad seeds. The sarcotesta of pomegranate seeds consists of epidermal cells derived from the integument, and there are no arils on these seeds. [2]
They have broad, rhombic-shaped microsporophylls. The female cones are ovoid, green, and larger, measuring 15–35 cm long and 8–15 cm in diameter. Their macrosporophylls have a warty surface. The seeds are oblong, 20–30 mm long, 18–23 mm wide, and covered by a red sarcotesta. [4]
However, more correct would be cardboard cycad since it reflects the actually taxonomic classification of this species. Other names include cardboard plant, cardboard sago, Jamaican sago, and Mexican cycad. The plant's binomial name comes from the Latin zamia, for "pine nut", and furfuracea, meaning "mealy" or "scurfy".