Sago Palm and a strange object

in cycads •  6 years ago 

Sago Palms are not palms at all, but Cycads: Cycad revoluta. It turns out that Cycads are not actually living fossils that have survived since dinosaur times but a modern lineage of plants that re-evolved after going extinct along with the dinosaurs.

My country is home to many species of cycads and these are protected species, requiring a permit to be kept. I have 2 indigenous Encephalartos seedlings that I bought at a flea market, although I still didn't get around to getting a permit for them.
Sago palms are native to Japan and don't require permits and I got this young plant yesterday

cycad revoluta.jpg

Of course I picked this plant for the weird growth I saw at the base of the caudex. Here's a closeup:

weird growth.jpg

Sago palms are known for making pups but it seems odd for a pup to form in a plant so young. So what is it? Roots gone wild? Any suggestions are welcome.

Like all cycads, these are extremely slow growing so I think I will just keep it outside in a pot for now - It may look like something in a bout 5 years from now. I repotted my other cycad seedlings and they have made one or two fronds in the time that I have had them but it will be a while before they are even identifiable.

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Is it part of the plant or a separate entity ? I like the fact the something can re-evolve :-)

I also like the re-evolution part. It is connected to something underneath there

Alien from other planet!! You really like weird plants, dinosaur will pop up in your garden one day!

The only dinosaur is me ;)

You have interesting laws. You need to get permission to grow plants. And this is in Africa, where there is so little vegetation. The authorities, on the other hand, should create good conditions for those who grow various plants and not hinder them.

The thing is that people steal them from the wilderness