500 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
cone-like, the staminal leaves are much smaller, undivided and furnished 
on the under-side with a number of densely-crowded pollen-sacs. The 
species are natives of Tropical Asia and Australia. 
ycads are of comparatively recent introduction, Cycas 
circinalis having been introduced from the East Indies in 
the year 1700. The name of Sago Palm, sometimes applied to these 
plants, is somewhat misleading, as they do not produce real Sago of 
commerce, which is obtained from species of true Palms, viz. Metroxylon. 
The name arises from the fact that from the seeds of C. circinalis in the 
Moluceas, and the stem of C. revoluta in Japan, a starchy substance is 
derived which is used as food; sago or sagw being the Papuan word for 
bread. ©. revoluta was introduced from China in the year 1737. These 
are the species principally cultivated in this country, but other good 
forms have been introduced, and may occasionally be seen in our stoves, 
such as C. media from Northern Australia, 1874, C. normanbyana from 
New South Wales in 1875, and C. siamensis from Cochin China, 1878. 
C, CIRCINALIS (curved-leaved). Trunk 6 to 20 feet 
ee ha sometimes branched. Leaves smooth, paler beneath, 
6 to 9 feet long; leaflets sickle-shaped, 6 to 12 inches long. Ceylon, ete. 
C. MEDIA (medium-sized). Trunk stout, becoming tall when very 
old. Leaves large, pinnate, 3 to 6 feet long; leaflets very numerous and 
very slender, the lower ones passing into spines. 
C. NORMANBYANA (Normanby’s). Trunk slender, base of leaf-stalks 
covered with scurfy down. Leaves 2 to 4 feet long; leaflets very 
slender and numerous, touching each other, about 6 inches long. 
C. REVOLUTA (rolled back). Trunk very stout; in old specimens 
sometimes branched at top, 6 to 9 feet high. Leaves 2 to 6 feet long, 
dark green; leaflets numerous, narrow, the margins rolled back. 
C. SIAMENSIS (Siamese). Trunk stout. Leaves 2 to 4 feet Jong, 
pinnate; leaflets narrow-lanced-shaped, with an abrupt spiny point. 
Closely resembling C. circinalis. 
Other genera of Cycads grown in stoves are Macrozamia and 
Bowenia from Australia, Zamia and Dioon from South and Central 
America, Hncephalartos and Stangeria from Africa. Many of these are 
excellent subjects for large conservatories. Bowenia is remarkable for 
its tuberous stem and bipinnate leaves, and Stangeria for its close 
resemblance to a fern. The cones of Macrozumia and Encephalartos 
History. 
are very large and handsome. There is a fine collection of these plants 
in the large Palm-House at Kew. 
- Cyeads should be planted in pots or tubs of rich loam 
Cultivation. ° . . . . 
to which river sand has been added in sufficient quantity to 
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