CXXIV. CYCADACE^. 1501 



recurved point or lanceolate appendix. Female cones consisting of numerous 

 scales, imbricate at least when young, either with one pendulous ovule (or carpel) 

 on each side of the thickened and hardened apex, or with 3 or more erect ovules 

 (or carpels) in marginal notches below the flattened acuminate and usually 

 dentate or pinnatifid apex. Fruiting-cone enlarged and either remaining imbri- 

 cate with 2 pendulous seeds to each scale, or the scales with marginal seeds 

 spreading as the central shoot is developed within the cone. Drupes or nuts with 

 a thick or hard outer coating or integument and a fleshy albumen, in a central 

 cavity of which the straight embryo is suspended by a long folded cord.: 

 Cotyledons 2, undivided. — Palm-like plants, with a thick globose and underground 

 or erect and cylindrical woody stem, simple or rarely slightly branched, marked 

 •with the scales or bases of the old leaves. Leaves forming a crown at the apex 

 of the stem, once or twice pinnate. Cones sessile or very shortly pedunculate 

 within the crown of leaves. 



The order extends over tropical America, subtropical and southern Africa, and tropical Asia. 

 0£ the three Australian genera one is also in Asia and Africa, the other two are endemic. 



Most, if not all, the plants of this Order met within Queensland, are considered to possess 

 more or less of a poisonous principle, which is said to become inert or expelled by heat, and 

 a considerable number of cattle die year after year from browsing upon the foliage, more 

 particularly in periods of drought. The disease thus engendered is known under the 

 name of "Biekets" and the chief symptoms are, according to Dr. Thos. L. Bancroft: — 

 Loss of proper, control over the movements of the hind limbs, which cause the animal to- 

 exhibit symptoms of paralysis (paraplegia) more or less distinct. Cattle of every description, 

 take the disease, but young stock in poor condition are more subject to it. The doctor further 

 states that affected animals may improve but seem never to recover completely. 



Leaves simply pinnate. Pinnie linear, with a prominent midrib. Female 

 scales elongated, woolly, with 2 or more erect ovules on each side in 

 marginal notches . . 1. Cycas. 



Leaves simply pinnate. Pinnoe linear, with several longitudinal scarcely 

 prominent nerves. Female scales with 1 pendulous ovule on each side 

 under the thickened acuminate apex . 2. Miceozamia. 



Lef.ves doubly pinnate. Pinnules obliquely ovate or broadly falcate, with 

 scarcely prominent veins. Cones of Macrozamia, but the apex of the scales 

 truncate 3. Bowekia. 



1. CYCAS, Linn. 



(The Greek name for a palm). 



Male cones oblong-ovoid or globular, the scales cuneate, hard, the thickened 

 apex more or less produced into a straight or incurved point. Female cones at 

 first globular, but opening out by the growth of the central E.hoot, the scales 

 elongated, tomentose or woolly, flat, bearing on each margin 2 to 5 ovules, erect 

 in distant notches, the apex of the scale dilated acuminate and toothed or pinnati- 

 fid, the scales at first loosely imbricate, at length spreading or recurved. Drupes 

 large, erect. Leaves simply pinnate, the pinnae numerous, linear, with a 

 prominent midrib, circinnate in vernation. 



The genus extends over the Indo-Australian region, reaching Madagascar and the east coast 

 of Africa to the westward and Japan to the northward. The Australian species are believed 

 to be endemic, but the distinctive characters are very insufficiently known. 

 Leaves nearly straight, the lower leaflets often represented by small 



prickle-like spines. Fructiferous scales pointed bearing 6 to 8 drupes . 1. C. media. 

 Leaves somewhat flexuous. Fructiferous scales blunt bearing 4 drupes . 2. C. Kennedyana. 

 Leaves simply curved, the loner leaflets represented by distant spines. 



Fructiferous scales with elongated narrow points. Drupes 2 .... 3. C. Normanbyana. 

 Leaven with the lower leaflets reduced to short teeth. Fructiferous scales 



rhomboid-lanceolate at the upper end and bearing 2 drupes .... 4. C. Cairnsiana. 



1. C. media (medium), R. Br. Prod, 848; Benth. Fl. Austr. vi. 249. 

 " Kammama," Atherton, Both. " Ma-ra," Bloomfield Eiver, Roth. " Bodell," 

 Cairns, Nugent. " Nijar," Cape Grafton, Roth. " Baveu," Eockhampton, Tho:et. 

 "Kimalo," TuUy Eiver, 7i'o«/i. " Ba-dur," Cooktown, Kof/i. Trunk sometimes- 



Pakt V. K 



