In the botanical world you can find plants whose shapes are very similar to one another, but which are genetically as far apart as Venus from Neptune. One of the cases in the book that usually fools people unfamiliar with the wonders of the plant kingdom has to do with some plants from an ancient lineage. This is the genus Cycas, which is directly related to a group of plants that was already dominant in the Mesozoic era, a few million years ago, when dinosaurs lived on the planet. For this reason, like the ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), they are also considered “living fossils”. Now, these cycas are so similar in appearance to palm trees that they are often confused with them; And yet, to someone knowledgeable about the subject, it would be like comparing a sea anemone to a spider in the animal kingdom.
The similarity that they have to palm trees at the morphological level is linked to the presence of a trunk crowned by a tuft of leaves, in turn palm-shaped. But palms and these cycads belong to families very distant from each other – Arecaceae and Cycadaceae, respectively – with a different method of reproduction, as the former are angiosperms and the latter are gymnosperms. This means that there are no true fruits in cycads because their eggs are not enclosed in an ovary, which is the case in angiosperm plants such as palms.
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There are just over 100 different species within this genus. Two species are commonly grown in horticulture: Cycas circinalis and Cycas revoluta. The latter is native to the Ryukyu Islands south of Japan and in the Fujian region of eastern China. There this Cyca grows happily between the rocks of the cliffs, right at the foot of the sea. It is the most widely used species in gardens around the world because it can withstand a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions. In fact, it can withstand both high and low humidity, even surviving several degrees below zero (if they don’t last very long) if protected from the coldest winds. Whether you are growing the cyca in a pot or in garden soil, placing the cyca against a wall that blocks air may be enough for it to grow successfully. So they were grown in the 17th century, protected by walls, in the famous Potager du Roi (Royal Garden) in Versailles. To protect them from frost and snow, it is customary in Japanese gardens to tie their leaves together and wrap them with mats of straw, a scene very common there.
The Japanese sago, another name for Cycas revoluta, produces a new batch of leaves every year, which is a spectacular moment for the plant. Then up to 20 to 30 new, tender and rolled leaves emerge at the tip. As the weeks pass, these leaves quickly harden and take on the thick, shiny consistency typical of adult leaves. Sometimes it can happen that one year it decides not to put out new leaves and waits for the next to form them. If this happens, it may be because there is not enough water in the spring or there is not enough fertilizer, which delays formation.
The leaves in full development show their characteristic curl.DigiPub (Getty Images)
The cica is a sun lover, but if it provides some shade in the middle hours of the day, it can thank you with a more intense green color. As for water, it enjoys good moisture in its roots as long as it has perfect drainage. By the way, these roots have a special feature in that they are connected to bacteria that bind nitrogen from the air to transfer it to the plant. This way you can achieve good annual growth even if you do not have adequate fertilization. Nevertheless, the Cica has a good annual fertilization schedule and it is strongly recommended that this be an organic fertilization that also benefits any microorganisms in the soil or substrate.
To understand their sexuality, you have to know that there are female and male specimens. When pollinated, the female Cyca produces large and very showy seeds in a huge structure that arises in the center of her leaves. Keep in mind that this plant, like many others, is highly toxic when consumed, with effects that can even lead to the death of the unfortunate animal that tastes it. This was not a problem for obtaining a floury, starchy and edible substance from this plant – sago; Yes, after careful treatment to eliminate its toxins.
A female cyca displays her reddish seeds among the plush scales of her megasporophiles.Sergi Escribano (Getty Images)
The beauty of the Cica has graced the gardens of half of Spain, where specimens dozens of years old can be found – such as in the María Luisa Park in Seville – that are easily recognized by the fact that they reach a height of up to just over five meters. It has also taken pride of place on patios and patios as it is ideal for growing in a good pot. As the cyca grows older, it usually produces many basal shoots that can be separated from the mother plant and planted separately. If left, the appearance of a single palm tree transforms into multiple foliage, which is also very beautiful to look at. Be that as it may, the Cica, with its rich and bright green, watches us as we pass and is much more aware of its age than that of the palm trees. That’s what she thinks.
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