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Cycads

© Diana Pederson

The apparently false information on how to take care of a plant found in this book makes it difficult for the average reader to know if they can trust a book or not. That is why I have tried dozens of plant varieties even when I didn't have the specific conditions a book said they needed to grow. Granted, some have died, but others are still thriving in my indoor light garden.

Frankly, after searching through several books, I was rather discouraged about keeping my two sago palms alive leave alone actually growing! Naturally, I turned to the World Wide Web for additional information. Please follow the links listed below to find more detailed information. When you are done, you may want to explore the possibility of growing them from seed. This might become a new, indoor-gardening hobby for you!

WEBSITES TO EXPLORE

Palm and Cycad Societies

The Virtual Cycad Encyclopedia

was created by the Palm & Cycad Societies of Florida. This site provides in-depth information on the classification, distribution and a complete listing of cycad species. You'll find excellent photos.

Since I thought the Cycas genus was the only cycad, the page dealing with the classification of cycads has proven fascinating. It contains a listing of all the genuses within the plant order Cycadales. If you find this confusing, don't worry about it. Just use this list to figure out whether a particular plant genus is actually from the cycad order.

I found the article, Never Throw Away a Cycad extremely valuable because I currently have one sago palm with all yellow, drooping leaves. I checked and it has "lost" its roots for whatever reason. Following directions in this article, I'll try to get it growing once again.

Southeastern Palm & Exotic Plant Society

Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia

General Information on Cycads

The Introduction to the Cycads website gives a history of this plant order.

South African Cycads focuses on the genus Encephalartos. Douglas Goode has produced several cycad paintings which you may want to view or even purchase.

Cycads (fact sheet found in Burke's Backyard Online
Cool Tropics - Grow coldhardy palms, cycads, & tropicals

The Forest of Modjadji: Cycad Sanctuary in 'The Realm of a Rain Queen'

UGA Botany: Greenhouse Tour 2--Cycads

Cycad (Encarta encyclopedia entry)

Sago Palms

Cycad Scale

Palms, Cycads, and Platyceriums

Cycadales on Postage Stamps

Sources for Cycads