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Cycas thouarsii
R.Br.
Madagascar Sago
Cycadaceae
Cycas thouarsii is a species of tree-sized cycad in the family Cycadaceae. It is native to Madagascar, Comoros, and possibly also the eastern African coast, from Kenya to Mozambique. It has also been introduced to Mauritius and the Seychelles. It reportedly has some uses for food or decoration
Description
Cycas thouarsii is a tree, growing to about 4 to 10 m tall, often branching as it ages. Leaves are huge, 1.5 to 3 m long and 20 to 45 cm wide, pinnate, on a 30 to 40 cm long leafstalk that is armed with 5 mm long spines. Each leaf has 60 to 70 pairs of pointed, leathery, stiff leaflets that are 20 to 38 cm long, 7 to 20 mm wide. Leaves are bright green above, paler below. The leaflets have a prominent midrib above and below, and smooth margins rolled slightly downwards. Male (pollen) cones are large, hairy and yellowish orange, 30 to 60 cm tall and 11 to 20 cm wide, cylindrical, on a slightly hairy stalk that is 5 cm long or less. Seeds are borne on separate trees. Female cones consist of leaf-like structures called sporophylls, and several seeds. Sporophylls are up to 35 cm long, ovate to lanceolate, with the lamina being 7 to 10 cm long and 3 cm wide, with dense orange-brown hairs and irregular to scalloped teeth. Seeds are about 4.7 to 5.4 cm long, 3.7 to 4.4 cm wide, smooth, and red when ripe (Whitelock 2003).
Uses
​Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Reportedly the leaves of Cycas thouarsii can be woven into mats, or eaten as a vegetable when young, while a starch-like powder can be extracted from seeds and stems. It can also be cultivated; it has a fast growth rate, and grows best in a tropical climate (Whitelock 2003).
Distribution
Cycas thouarsii is often found near the coast, in areas with high summer temperatures and frost-free winters. It grows in open woodland or forest edges, in sand or on coral formations. It is native to Madagascar, the Comoros, and the coasts of Mozambique, Tanzania, and Kenya. However, its presence on the eastern African coast may be from Arab traders introducing the species for food and decoration. It has also been introduced into Mauritius and the Seychelles (Whitelock 2003).
Status
Cycas thouarsii is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Least Concern". Some urban expansion and collecting exists, but it is not enough to threaten the species. It is listed in Appendix II of CITES, an international treaty regulating the trade of endangered species (Golding and Hurter 2010).
References
Golding, J., and Hurter, J. 2010. Cycas thouarsii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41940A10606292.en.
Whitelock, L. M. 2003. The Cycads. Portland: Timber Press.
Whitelock, L. M. 2003. The Cycads. Portland: Timber Press.
Description
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