Cycas circinalis

Cycas circinalis, also known as the queen sago, is a species of cycad known in the wild only from southern India. Cycas circinalis is the only gymnosperm species found among native Sri Lankan flora.

Queen sago
In Kerala
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnosperms
Division: Cycadophyta
Class: Cycadopsida
Order: Cycadales
Family: Cycadaceae
Genus: Cycas
Species:
C. circinalis
Binomial name
Cycas circinalis

Taxonomy

C. circinallis is native to southern India and Sri Lanka, but the species name was formerly widely used for similar cycads in Southeast Asia, which leads to confusion in modern sources. The specimens described as "C. circinallis" in Indonesia and New Guinea are now recognized as Cycas rumphii; while the taxon formerly described as the subspecies C. circinallis ssp. riuminiana from the Philippines is now regarded as a separate species, Cycas riuminiana.[2][3]

Cultivation

The plant is widely cultivated in Hawaii, both for its appearance in landscape and interiors, and for cut foliage.[4]

  • Male cone, new
    Male cone, new
  • Male cone, old
    Male cone, old
  • Young shoots
    Young shoots
  • Seed
    Seed
  • Collected seeds
    Collected seeds
  • Young plant as seen in forest
    Young plant as seen in forest
  • Leaf
    Leaf

Use as food

The seed is poisonous. The potent poison in the seeds is removed by soaking them in water. Water from the first seed-soaking will kill birds, goats, sheep and hogs. Water from the following soakings is said to be harmless. [Minimum of 5 Soakings needed to ensure the safety]

After the final soaking, the seeds are dried and ground into flour. The flour is used to make tortillas, tamales, soup and porridge.

Lytico-bodig disease

The plant was thought to be linked with the degenerative disease lytico-bodig on the island of Guam; however, the cycad native to Guam has since been recognised as a separate species, Cycas micronesica, by K.D. Hill in 1994.

Chemistry

Leaflets of C. circinalis contain biflavonoids such as (2S, 2′′S)-2,3,2′′,3′′-tetrahydro-4′,4′′′-di-O-methylamentoflavone (tetrahydroisoginkgetin).[5]

References
  1. Varghese, A.; Krishnamurthy, V.; Garnesan, R. & Manu, K. (2010). "Cycas circinalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T42089A10627275. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  2. Lindstrom, Anders; Hill, Kenneth; Stanberg, Leonie (15 February 2008). "The genus Cycas (Cycadaceae) in The Philippines". Telopea. 12: 119–145. doi:10.7751/telopea20085805.
  3. Lindstrom, Anders; Hill, Kenneth; Stanberg, Leonie (26 October 2009). "The genus Cycas (Cycadaceae) in Indonesia". Telopea. 12 (3): 385–418. doi:10.7751/telopea20095826.
  4. Iwata, Ruth Y.; Rauch, Fred D. (October 1988). "King and Queen Sago". University of Hawaii. hdl:10125/6011. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  5. Phytochemical Investigation of Cycas circinalis and Cycas revoluta Leaflets: Moderately Active Antibacterial Biflavonoids. Abeer Moawad, Mona Hetta, Jordan K. Zjawiony, Melissa R. Jacob, Mohamed Hifnawy, Jannie P. J. Marais and Daneel Ferreira, Planta Med., 2010, 76(8), pages 796-802, doi:10.1055/s-0029-1240743
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