cycad

noun cy·cad \ ˈsī-kəd \

Definition of cycad

: any of an order (Cycadales) of dioecious cycadophytes that flourished especially during the Jurassic and are represented by four surviving families of palmlike tropical plants

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Recent Examples of cycad from the Web

This year, there are staples like firebush, rare natives like pearlberry, and rather hard-to-find cycads like Encephalartoshildebrandtii.

— kenneth setzer, miamiherald, "This tree has huge leaves and clusters of coral flowers and likes Miami’s weather | Miami Herald," 6 Apr. 2018
Check sagos for white cycad scale; control as needed with a natural oil spray.

— tom maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "April in the garden," 31 Mar. 2018
During her lifetime, Walska was more famous for running through six husbands than for creating dramatic displays of aloes, bromeliads, cycads, cactuses, epiphyllums, succulents, ferns and more in themed landscapes.

— emily young, latimes.com, "Celebrating the elusive Lotusland, among the world's most beautiful gardens," 29 Mar. 2018
Sago palms, also known as cycads, cardboard palms, fern palms and coontie plants, hail from tropical and subtropical areas but have become popular ornamental plants in the United States in the past 10 to 20 years.

— kim campbell thornton, sacbee, "Sago palms pose serious risks to pets – here are key things to know | The Sacramento Bee," 14 Mar. 2018
The Olson-Binder garden in Poway features cycads, rare ferns and orchids.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Pomerado News, "Spring garden tour returns to Rancho Bernardo, Poway," 7 Mar. 2018
But of South Africa’s 38 cycad species, 25 are threatened with extinction.

— The Economist, "The loneliest plant on earth," 19 Oct. 2017
For extreme collectors, rarity only makes a cycad more desirable.

— The Economist, "The loneliest plant on earth," 19 Oct. 2017
Imagine a landscape where redwood-like metasequoias towered over the hills; slim alder-like trees, ginkgos and vines dwelled at the forest margins; and lush ferns, cycads and horsetails packed the swamps.

— kate siber, Alaska Dispatch News, "When dinosaurs ruled Alaska," 19 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cycad.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

A cycad is a tropical palmlike evergreen plant. Cycads flourished especially during the Jurassic and are represented by four surviving families. Cycads have crowns of large, feathery compound leaves and cones at the ends of their branches. Some have tall, unbranched trunks; others have partially buried stems with swollen trunks. Slow-growing cycads are used as ornamental conservatory plants, but some survive outdoors in temperate regions. The stems of some cycads yield starch that is edible if thoroughly cooked. The young leaves and seeds of others also are edible.