Question

Some cycads are considered endangered species and their trade is severely restricted. Customs officials stop suspected smugglers who claim that the plants in their possession are palm trees, not cycads. How would a botanist distinguish between the two types of plants?

Short answer

Cycads and palm trees have merely a superficial resemblance. Gymnosperms, like cycads, do not produce flowers or fruits. Cones are produced by cycads, with big female cones producing naked seeds and tiny male cones on different plants. Palms, however, do not.

Step-by-step solution

Introduction

Cycads are a type of gymnosperm that grows in temperate areas. The leaves are big and complex. They have huge cones that, unusually for a gymnosperm, may be pollinated by insects rather than by wind. They are frequently utilised as ornamental plants in tropical and subtropical gardens due to their beautiful shape.

Step 2

Because of the unique design of its huge, complex leaves, cycads are frequently mistaken for palm trees.

Explanation

The main distinction between cycads and palms is that cycads are non-flowering (gymnosperms), whereas palms are flowering (angiosperms). As a result, cycads reproduce by means of cone-like structures, whereas palms reproduce by means of flowers and fruits.