Assam Cycas Pleads for Protection

Cycads are woody, palm like trees with distinctive appearance which is related to their primitiveness or antiquity. Cycads flourished in Phanerozoiceon and reached their peak in the Mesozoic era. At present, they are surviving by a single order Cycadales with three families Cycadaceae, Zamiaceae and Stangeriaceae, having 10 genera and about 300 species. These taxa are surviving in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Indian cycads are represented by a single genus Cycas with nine species and one variety. Cycas pectinata Ham. was described from the Kamrup district of th Assam in 19^th century. Widespread habitat destruction urbanisation and unsustainable harvesting of the species for horticulture, medicine and many socio-cultural rituals led Cycas population to become critically endangered in the state. In the present paper, discovery of a giant tree of cycad is reported. Threats to cycad populations and illegal trade of Cycas cones are highlighted in the paper.