Cycas pectinata
Family: Cycadaceae
What it is like
A small cycad. It is a palm like plant. It grows 2 m tall. The trunk is unbranched. The leaves occur in a ring near the top. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets are 20 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. They are stiff and leathery. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. Male cones are oval and erect and central. The female cones are a cluster of round woody fruits below the top of the plant. The fruit are on long stalks. The seeds are 3-4 cm long. They are orange. They are covered by upward turning scaly blades.
There are about 20-40 Cycas species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. In Nepal they are grown between 500 and 1400 m altitude. In XTBG Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The tender leaves or shoots are cooked as a vegetable. They are fried or boiled. They can be stored for 15 days. The seeds are eaten.
The leaves are sold in markets.
Edible parts
Leaves, fruit, stem-starch, shoots, seeds
How it is grown
Plants are grown from offshoot buds.
In Sikkim fruit are available December to January.
Its other names
Local names
Da gu, Daqu, Dezhe, Dieng-sia-goda, Guo gu, Hmab ntshav ciaj, Maprao-dao-luang, Mondaing madai, Nagehampa, Or-oh, Pagula, Tanglu, Thakal, Thaljimura, Thulo nyuro, Yendang