What kind of plant is the iron tree?

Iron tree, also known as phoenix tail banana, avoid fire banana, phoenix tail pine, etc., is an evergreen palm-like woody plant belonging to cycad family. Because its trunk is as hard as iron, it likes ferruginous fertilizer, so it is named iron tree. In addition, because the branches and leaves like phoenix tail, trunk like banana, pine trunk, so also known as phoenix tail. It grows slowly and has a life span of more than 200 years. A new leaf can be extracted from the top of the stem every year.

Stems of the tree are 1 to 8 meters high. Stem terete, unbranched. After the growth point is destroyed, clusters of branches and buds can sprout under the wound, showing a multi-headed shape. Stems persistent on leaf bases and leaf scars, scalelike. Leaves grow from the top of the stem, 1-pinnate compound leaf, 0.5~2.0 m long, thick leathery and hard, pinna strip. Leaflets linear, roll in at birth, after the upward oblique exhibition, slightly "V"-shaped, edge downward reverse roll, apex acute, leaf back dense rust color villi, base leaflets into spiny.

The male cone is cylindrical, the microspore leaves are woody, densely covered with yellow-brown tomentose, and many anther sacs are borne on the back. The female cone is flat spherical, the megaspore leaves are broadly ovate, the upper part is pinnate, and there are 2~4 naked orthotropous ovules on both sides below. Seeds mature in December, seeds are large, ovate and slightly flat, reddish brown or orange when ripe.

Sago often flowering irregular, and not easy to see flowering, so there is a "millennium Sago flowering" argument, saying that its flowering less. Generally, old trees of 15 to 20 years old can bloom, and if cultivated properly, they can bloom once a year. When the growth environment is good in the south, flowers can be seen every year, and the flowering period can last for as long as 1 month. Generally, male flowers bloom between June and August, and female flowers bloom from October to November. Dioecious plants, flowering and inconsistent, in the north is not easy to receive seeds.

Iron tree likes light, slightly tolerant of semi-shade, warm, not very cold, like fertile wet and slightly acidic soil, but also able to withstand drought, slow growth, more than 10 years of plants can bloom. There are 17 species in the world, distributed in tropical and subtropical regions such as eastern Asia and southeastern Asia, Oceania and Madagascar. There are 8 species in China, which are produced in Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Guangxi, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces.

Cycas plants are beautiful trees, vigorous simplicity, large and beautiful leaves green all the year round, with a unique ornamental effect. If arranged in the garden and large-scale meeting place can receive solemn effect, configuration in the flower bed center makes people have a sense of peace, as a foil to ancient architecture is ancient vigorous, as a modern building with plants is the four seasons thick green and enjoy the heart and God, planted next to the temple there is a wonderful effect to ward off evil.