Cycas rumphii

Rumpf's sago palm fern
	Cycas rumphii with a cone-shaped male inflorescence
Systematics
Subdivision :	Seed plants (Spermatophytina)
Class :	Cycadopsida
Order :	Cycads (Cycadales)
Family :	Cycadaceae
Genre :	Sago Palm Ferns ( Cycas )
Type :	Rumpf's sago palm fern
Scientific name
	Cycas rumphii
	Miq.

Cycas rumphii ( rump sago palm fern ) is a species of plant in the genus of sago palm ferns ( Cycas ), the only genus in the family Cycadaceae .

The type is named after the German-born Dutchman Georg Eberhard Rumpf named (1628-1702).

description

The feathery leaf fronds that look similar to fern fronds are typical. Unlike palm fronds, the fronds of the cycads are fork-veined ( dichotomous ). Initially, the fronds, similar to ferns, are rolled up. Lower leaves are also formed, alternating with the leaf fronds. On the trunk, the leaves are formed helically. Usually a wreath of new leaves forms at the same time, usually once a year, the older the plant, the more new leaves per year. Most of the time the trunks are unbranched.

As with all species of the Cycadaceae family , only the male plants have cone-shaped inflorescences ( sporophyll stands ). The female plants have reshaped ( fertile ) leaves that are formed in a wreath at the top of the plant, alternating with the deciduous leaves - on the edges of these fertile leaves (sporophylls) there are individual ovules. After fertilization, the seeds then form on the edge of these fertile leaves, which are also found in a similar form in ferns .

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 22.

distribution

Distribution map of Cycas rumphii .

The species is primarily native to the Moluccas and is also found in Malaysia , eastern Indonesia , New Guinea , southern Borneo and northeastern Java . In culture it can be found in some tropical countries, for example in the Indian suburbs , Guam , Fiji , New Caledonia , Solomon Islands and China .

use

The species is used by humans as a so-called false sago , as are the species Cycas circinalis and Cycas revoluta . There is also a lot of starch in the trunk of this sago palm fern.