Why in news?
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar has initiated a research on Cycad, over concerns that the plant contains BMAA, a potential neurotoxin.

About Cycad Plant

• Cycads are an ancient group of gymnosperms (naked-seed plants) that appeared over 300 million years ago and superficially resemble palms or ferns.
• They are slow-growing, long-lived, woody plants characterized by a stout, cylindrical trunk and a crown of large, stiff, evergreen, pinnate (feather-shaped) leaves.

Key Characteristics

• Gymnosperms: Unlike flowering plants, cycads bear exposed seeds, typically in large cones or on modified leaves called sporophylls.
• Unique Roots: They possess normal tap roots for anchorage and water absorption, as well as specialized "coralloid" roots that grow upwards and host symbiotic cyanobacteria for nitrogen fixation.
• Seeds: Seeds are often brightly colored (red, yellow, or purple) to attract animal dispersers.
• Toxicity: All parts of the plant contain a neurotoxin called BMAA, and other toxins, as a defense mechanism against herbivores. 
• Habitat: Cycads are found in tropical and subtropical regions across the world, including the Americas, Australia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
• Distribution:They are highly adaptable, with some species found in wet rainforests and others in semi-desert conditions or grasslands. 

Uses and Conservation

• Ornamental: Many species, such as the popular sago palm (Cycas revoluta), are widely cultivated as ornamental plants for gardens and as houseplants.
• Food Source: Native peoples in some regions, like Australia and Mexico, have traditionally processed the stems (for sago starch) and seeds of certain species for food.
• Many cycad species are critically endangered due to habitat loss and over-collection by plant enthusiasts.
• International trade is heavily regulated by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).

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