Division: Cycadophyta Order: Cycadales Families: Cycadaceae & Zamiaceae

Vegetative and Reproductive Features of Cycads

Habit: Palm-like with short, squat, unbranched trunks and large pinnately compound leaves, alternately arranged in close spirals and forming a crown at the apex of the stem. All possess coralloid roots with N-Fixing bacteria (Cyanobacteria). Secondary wood poorly developed; large pith and cortex; mucilage canals present. Plants evergreen; dioeceous. Microsporangia many on abaxial surface of microsporophylls which are spirally arranged into strobili (cone-like structures); primarily insect but also wind pollinated. Female gametophyte large.

Plant Structure Cycadaceae Circinate (rolled) when young Midvien and no lateral veins

Family Zamiaceae Flat or conduplicate (folded) when young With or without midvein may have numerous parallel veins or lateral veins Leaflike, clustered; does not Greatly reduced, valvate or form a strobilus imbricate; forms strobilus Pinnately lobed/toothed No pinnate region; 2 above the ovules; 2-8 reflexed ovules ovules laterally attached abaxially

Leaflets

Megasporophylls

Division: Cycadophyta Order: Cycadales Families: Cycadaceae & Zamiaceae

The Cycad Archegone

In cycads the Ovule consists of a Nucellus surrounded by a single Integument with a distinct Micropyle at the apical end. During the early stages of development the integument is mostly free from the nucellus, but at maturity only 1/3 of the nucellus is free, towards the micropylar end creating the Pollen Chamber. The integument has three layers: an outer & inner fleshy, and middle stony. The vascular supply to the ovule consists of a vascular strand that enters the base of the ovule or ovular stalk. The Female Gametophyte (egg sac) is large and can contain up to 6 archegonia (eggs / ova). Normally only 2 are seen in cross-section. Each archegonium is positioned near the apical end of the female gametophyte at the archegonial chamber.