Cycas revoluta
Japanese Sago Palm
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Cycas genus in the family Cycadaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Cycadaceae
- Genus
- Cycas
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- slow
- Height
- 3.5 m
- Spread
- 3.5 m
- Fertility
- Self sterile, Insects, Wind
- Flower type
- dioecious
- Pollinators
- Insects, Wind
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plants contain alkaloids of carcinogens and also an amino-acid that causes chronic nervous disorders[8]. Regular consumption of the plant leads to severe health problems and death. This toxic principle can be removed if the food is properly prepared but consumption of the plant still cannot be recommended because its use often means the death of the plant and it is becoming rare in the wild.
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - raw or cooked[7][12][4]. They can be dried and ground into a powder then mixed with brown rice and fermented into 'date miso' or 'sotetsu miso'[5]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. The heart or pith of the trunk is sliced and eaten baked or powdered. A toxic principal must first be removed[5]. A starch can be extracted from this pith and is used for making dumplings[5]. It is very sustaining[7][4].
- Plant part
- Seed
- Plant part
- Stem
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves are used in the treatment of cancer and hepatoma[9]. The terminal shoot is astringent and diuretic[9]. The seed is emmenagogue, expectorant and tonic[9]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism[9]. Substances extracted from the seeds are used to inhibit the growth of malignant tumours[9].
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Cancer
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Emmenagogue
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Tonic
Ecology and functions
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China, Japan.
- Habitat
- Found mainly on the sea shore in S. Japan[13]. Thickets on hillsides on islands, sparse forests on mainland at elevations of 100 - 500 metres in Fujian, China[11].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 9+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe, 2cm deep in individual pots which are then sealed in plastic bags to keep them moist until germination takes place. Germinates in 1 - 3 months at 25°c[2]. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours in warm water then treat as above. Division of suckers in the spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a strong loam with sharp sand and good drainage[2]. Succeeds in dry soils. Requires a sunny position[6]. Although it is the hardiest cycad, this species is not fully hardy in Britain but can tolerate occasional lows to about -5°c so long as the crown is protected[8][10] and so is worthwhile trying outdoors in a sheltered position in the mildest areas of the country[3]. Alternatively, it can be given greenhouse or conservatory protection over the winter and be placed outdoors in the summer[1]. Plants are very slow growing[6][10]. This plant is often used as a food source in its native range but recent research has shown that it can cause chronic nervous disorders if it is not treated properly[8]. Overall its use is not to be recommended, especially since it is becoming rare in the wild. The plants produce special upward growing roots where nitrogen is produced in symbiosis with algae[8]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00
Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00