- Cycas micronesica
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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, 1994Cycas 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
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hill, K.D. (1994). Cycas micronesica. Australian Systematic Botany 7: 554-556.
- ^ Sacks, Oliver. (1996). The Island of the Colour-blind. Pan Macmillan Australia: Sydney. ISBN 0-330-35887-1
- ^ 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: Wikispecies See also
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