Cycadophyta
Cycadophyta (pronounced: sigh-kah-doh-fy-tah) is a division of seed plants that includes a single extant (living) family, Cycadaceae, and several extinct families.
Etymology
The term "Cycadophyta" comes from the Greek words "kykas" (meaning "palm tree") and "phyta" (meaning "plant"). This is due to the resemblance of cycads to palm trees, although they are not closely related.
Description
Cycadophyta are gymnosperms, which means they have naked seeds that are not enclosed in an ovary. They are typically characterized by a stout and woody trunk with a crown of large, hard and stiff, evergreen leaves. They are usually slow-growing and long-lived, with some species known to live up to 1000 years.
Distribution
Cycads are found in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are most diverse in South and Central America, the West Indies, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific islands.
Classification
The division Cycadophyta is divided into two orders: Cycadales and Bennettitales. The Cycadales are the only order with living representatives, the cycads. The Bennettitales are an extinct order that were prominent from the Triassic to the Cretaceous periods.
Reproduction
Cycads reproduce via a process known as sporophyte generation. They produce large cones and are dioecious, meaning that individual plants are either male or female.
Conservation
Many species of cycads are threatened or endangered due to habitat destruction and over-collecting for the horticultural trade. Conservation efforts are being made to protect these ancient plants.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cycadophyta
- Wikipedia's article - Cycadophyta
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski