Sago Palm

Scientific name

Cycas circinalis L.

English Name

Sago Palm

Malayalam name

ഈന്ത്

Common name

Queen Sago

Description

Habit : Palm-like evergreen shrub or small tree
Habitat : Deciduous forests,Endemic to the Western Ghats and hilly regions of southern India, typically in dry, scrubby woodlands and rocky hills.
Leaves : Pinnately compound, long, dark green and glossy, arranged in a terminal rosette crown
Flowers : Dioecious (no true flowers); males produce large woody cones, females produce loosely arranged megasporophylls bearing ovules

Uses

Sores and swellings, vomiting, burning sensation, general debility, flatulence, joint disorders and neurological pains

Parts used

Tender leaves, bark, seeds, male cones

How to use

Treat sores and swellings : A paste of the bark and seeds mixed with coconut oil is applied externally to treat sores and swellings.
Vomiting : The juice extracted from tender leaves is useful in treating vomiting and flatulence.
Gastrointestinal tonic : The endosperm of the seed, when properly leached and processed to remove toxins, is used for burning sensations, general debility, and as a gastrointestinal tonic.
Joint disorders, rheumatoid arthritis : Traditional Ayurvedic practitioners use the leaf paste externally for joint disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurological pains.
Male cones are traditionally used as a narcotic and insect repellent.

Conservation

Propagation & Cultivation

Queen Sago thrives in warm, tropical, and subtropical climates with well-draining soil, ranging from sandy to loamy. It is highly drought-tolerant and prefers full sun or partial shade. Cultivation is primarily done through seeds, which require soaking and can take several months to germinate, or by separating basal offsets (suckers) from the parent plant. Proper planting involves ensuring excellent drainage to prevent root rot, and maintaining warm temperatures, as it is a very slow-growing plant that is sensitive to cold and frost.