Plants and mushrooms

Cycads

Common name		Cycads
Botanical name		Cycas species, most commonly Cycas revoluta, Cycas micronesica, Cycas megacarpa
Other common names		Tree zamia, Zamia palm, Sago palm
Family		Cycadaceae
General description		Palm-like plants to 7m high with erect trunks and a crown of leathery leaves. Both male and female plants occur.
Flowers		The cones are the reproductive parts of the plant.
Leaves		The leaves are shiny dark green and have numerous strap-shaped leaflets that are distinguished by a prominent midrib while lacking any obvious secondary veins. Leaves measure 0.6-1.7m long, and leaflets 11-27cm long and 0.4-0.8cm wide.
Fruit/Berries		The fruit are 2-3.5cm long and 1.5-2.5cm wide, bright orange to red or sometimes yellowish in colour, with a fleshy, soft seed coat.
Other		The sap is clear.
Symptoms		If eaten, the raw fruit may cause headache and severe gastro-intestinal irritation including stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In a very few severe cases, liver damage, coma and death have been reported. The male cone has a fruity odour when releasing pollen and this has been recorded as causing respiratory distress.
Toxicity category		2, 4
Warning		Seek urgent medical attention for all ingestions.