Cycas sphaerica
Cycas sphaerica
Safety & Hazards
We have no specific information for this species, but most if not all members of this genus are believed to contain toxins. The two main toxic compounds that have been identified are cycasin and macrozamin. When ingested in sufficient quantities, these compounds are extremely poisonous to humans and many other animals, and have been shown to cause liver damage and cancer. Cycasin and macrozamin have a cumulative effect upon the body and are suspected of causing neurological disorders when ingested in small amounts over long periods of time. There is a long history of human use of this genus as a starch-rich food, but it should be noted that the plants needed to be treated in various ways in order to remove any toxic principles. Caution should be exercised even with properly prepared foods, since even then regular consumption may lead to severe health problems and death. Since many of these species are becoming increasingly rare in the wild, this is probably a food best left to times of food shortage when other, better foods, are not available[ 1935 Title The Cycads Publication Author Whitelock L.M. Publisher Timber Press; Portland, Oregon Year 2002 ISBN 0-88192-522-5 Description An excellent book dealing with the eleven different genera and almost 300 species of plants we know as Cycads. There are detailed descriptions and a host of other information for each species. , K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ].
Botanical Description
Cycas sphaerica is a slow-growing, evergreen palm-like plant with an erect, unbranched main stem that can eventually be around 450cm tall and 25 - 40cm in diameter; this is topped by a crown of large thorny leaves each around 60 - 270cm long[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. , 1933 Title A Taxonomic Revision of the Genera Cycas and Epicycas gen. nov. (Cycadaceae) Publication Blumea 43 (1998) 351-400 Author de Laubenfels D.J. & Adema F. Publisher Year 1998 ISBN Description ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. The leaves are harvested for use as decorations, and are sold in local markets for this purpose[ 1938 Title Traditional food and medicinal uses of Cycas sphaerica Roxb. and Cycas beddomei Dyer (Cycadaceae) Publication Species, 2019 , 20 , 24-27 Author Solomon Raju AJ. et al Website http://www.discoveryjournals.org Publisher Year 2019 ISBN 2319-5746 Description ]. Very little is known about the population size, trends and range of Cycas sphaerica. There is some utilization of the species but it is not known to what extent this is a significant threat. The plant is classified as 'Data Deficient' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2010)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].