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Handy plant
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Sago Palm makes a good outdoor plant
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Sago Palm
CYCAS REVOLTA, generally known as Sago Palm, are palm-like but they are not palms and belongs to the family, Cycadaceae. The name originates from the Greekword, Kykas, whichmeans a palm.
The plant resemble a miniature palm with stiff palm-like leaves coming out of a short trunk. The leaves consist of flat, slightly sickle-shaped pinnules rolled up at edges with sharp tips, dark green in colour and lighter on the underside.
Each leaf is up to 35 cm long and borne on a short, spiked four angled stalk, about eight cm long and each leaflet is about 12 cm long. Some of the leaves stand almost vertical, but most of them arch backward. The trunk is covered by the brown remains of the leaf-bases.
The plant produces huge fleshy roots and prefers sandy soil in good light with lots of water. Potted plants are slow growing and they must be kept in a place with very little humidity but that is well-lit. Seeds are produced in cones. Propagation is by seeds. Flowers do not develop on plants that are grown indoors.
Sago palms are very popular because they are handy and manageable and do not take over the garden like so many other tropical plants. The plant will grow one set of leaves a year and add only 10 cm of stem-height each season.
They are ideal for parks and outdoor gardens.
The pineapple like base with its rusty covering contains a reserve of water upon which the plant can survive in case of drought. Sago Palm must be given bright light all year long with or without direct sunlight. They do not like poor or medium light.
Give Cycas only enough water to prevent the mixture from drying out completely.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
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Chennai
Coimbatore
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Kochi
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