Cycas micronesica

Cycas micronesica
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Cycadophyta
Class: Cycadopsida
Order: Cycadales
Family: Cycadaceae
Genus: Cycas
Species: C. micronesica
Binomial name
Cycas micronesica
K.D. Hill, 1994

Cycas micronesica is a type of cycad found in Micronesia , the Marianas Group and the western Caroline Islands. The species, previously lumped with Cycas rumphii or Cycas circinalis, was described in 1994 by Ken Hill.[2] It is linked with the human degenerative disease Lytico-Bodig disease, which is similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through a neurotoxin in the seeds, which were a traditional food source on Guam until the 1960s.[3]

Contents

Conservation

Cycas micronesica is threatened by an introduced insect pest, the diaspidid scale Aulocapsis yasumatsui, first recognised in Guam in December 2003.[4] Because of this the species is considered to be endangered.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Marler, T., Haynes, J. & Lindstrom, A. (2009). "Cycas micronesica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/61316. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
  2. ^ Hill, K.D. (1994). Cycas micronesica. Australian Systematic Botany 7: 554-556.
  3. ^ Sacks, Oliver. (1996). The Island of the Colour-blind. Pan Macmillan Australia: Sydney. ISBN 0-330-35887-1
  4. ^ Terry, Irene; & Marler, Thomas. (2005). Paradise Lost? Tipping the scales against Guam’s Cycas micronesica. The Cycad Newsletter 28(3-4): 21-23.

External links

External identifiers for Cycas micronesica
EOL 630768
NCBI 179182
Also found in: [//species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cycas_micronesica Wikispecies]

See also