Cycads are woody-stemmed plants with leaves that resemble those of ferns and palms. However cycads are not closely related to either of these plants. They are actually cone and seed-bearing plants more closely related to pine trees. Cycads are members of a classification of plants known as gymnosperms, plants which do not bear flowers, but, rather bear cones, or "naked" seeds that develop on the individual cone scales. Cycads are truly living fossils, having existed for nearly 280 million years on earth, since the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods. Many believe that cycads were a primary food of herbivorous dinosaurs. Certainly, any family of plants that has lived this long on earth has a special aura to it. There are nearly 300 described species of these plants, divided among two families and 11 genera. Species continue to be discovered, whether in the wilds of Central Africa, Northern Thailand or Central America. Cycads are found mostly in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, primarily in central and southern Africa, Australia, South and Central America, the Caribbean, and throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands. Cycads have become very popular landscape plants over the past 15-20 years, as many people have come to appreciate their primitive and exotic beauty, as well as their rarity and value. Many rare cycad species, and large specimen plants, involve a serious investment. Collectors and cycad enthusiasts have been know to go to absurd lengths to obtain these special plants. Along with the increase in interest in these plants has come an unfortunate increase in pressure on the habitats of these rare and endangered plants. Cycads are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and permits are required for export or import of these plants from one country to another. We hope, through the effective distribution of artificially propagated seeds and other plant materials, that we can contribute to the re-population of the world with these beautiful plants, and, thus reduce the pressure on plants endangered in the wild. In this way, we hope to support the message of endangered species preservation and conservation. When you purchase a nursery-grown cycad such as the plants we offer in these pages, you are part of a worldwide movement to preserve endangered species, by helping to re-populate the world with these rare and extraordinary plants. Thank you for supporting cycad preservation while helping continue the existence of these important endangered plants. Maurice Levin The Jurassic Garden at A&A Cycads P.S. If you're interested in learning more, below you will find some articles on cycads. "A Jurassic Garden of their Own" Los Angeles Times, March 22, 2007 by Jeff Spurrier