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Cycas (Greek name for a Palm ORD)

(the Greek name for a Palm). ORD. Cycadaceae. Stove herbaceous perennials. Male flowers in cones, consisting of scales, bearing anthers on their inner surface. "The female plants bear in the centre of the crown of leaves surmounting the stem, a tuft of woolly pinnately-cleft leaves, in the notches of whose margins the naked or uncovered ovules are placed" (Masters). Stem cylindrical, usually unbranched, terminated at the top by a fine crown of deeply-cut pinnate leaves. They thrive in strong loam and river sand, in moist heat. The pots must be well-drained to prevent any stagnation. Propagation is effected by seeds; and young plants are obtained from suckers, which are occasionally thrown up. For small gardens, the two species circinalis and revoluta, will be found quite sufficient, as the remainder are, for the most part, distinct only in minor details. The handsome appearance of these plants renders them excellent subjects for decorating either stove, greenhouse, or conservatory; and few subjects are more graceful for the sub-tropical garden than an old specimen of C. revoluta, when placed in a warm and sheltered position, where it may be allowed to remain from May till September. C. circinalis (crook-leaved).* l. dark shining green on the upper side, paler below, 6ft. to 12ft. long, pinnate; pinnae falcate, from 6in. to 12in. long. Stem stout, cylindrical, increasing in size very slowly. Stem of male plant somewhat slender, frequently two to three times divided. East Indies, 1800. (B. M. 2826, 2827.) C. media (middle).* l. elliptic-lanceolate, pinnate; pinnae very numerous, linear, acuminate, lower ones abbreviated and passing into spines; petioles and rachis nearly plane on the upper side, and convex beneath. Trunk stout and tall, cylindrical, bearing a very fine head of large leaves. North Australia and Queensland, 1874. (I. H. 1879, 368.) C. Normanbyana (Normanby's).* l. oblong-ovate, pinnate; pinnae numerous, contiguous, linear, about 6in. long, 1/4in. wide, acutely pointed, slightly narrowed and decurrent at the base; petioles dorsally compressed, with both faces angular and the base clothed with furfuraceous down. New South Wales, 1875.

C. revoluta (rolled back).* l. dark green, pinnate, 2ft. to 6ft. long. Stems very stout, bearing a very handsome crown of leaves. China, 1737. In old plants, the stem is sometimes 7ft. high, and then branches, thus presenting a very unique and massive appearance. (B. M. 2963, 2964.) C. Riuminiana (Riumini's). l. erect, spreading towards the apex, pinnate; pinnae tapering to a fine point, rich bright green. Stem moderately stout. Philippine Islands, 1864. A rare but handsome species. (I. H. 405.) C. Rumphii (Rumphius'). l. pinnate, 4ft. to 6ft. long; pinnae 6in. to 10in. long, hardly 1in. broad, linear, lanceolate, pale green, texture thin; naked part of the petioles armed with a double row of short spines. Stem slender; summit bearing the crown of leaves. Indian Archipelago. C. siamensis (Siamese). l. about 30in. in length, oblong, pinnately divided into about sixty-five pairs and one terminal segment, all linear-lanceolate, abruptly spine-pointed at the apex, and decurrent at the base along the rachis, which is puberulous and rounded. Stem stout. Cochin China, 1878. This species closely resembles C. circinalis. (I. H. 433.)