Most sago reproduction in nature is from turions that simultaneously send up shoots and develop extensive subterranean systems of rhizomes that send up additional shoots in great abundance. Production of leafy shoots also occurs through axillary buds, stem or rhizome fragments, and thick woody rootstalks that can be buried more than 15 cm in bottom soils. As early as late March in the Northern Hemisphere, overwintering turions begin to develop a long shoot bud that develops leaves at the tip and rhizomes and roots on lower nodes. A dormant bud develops if the main bud is severed. Turions have highest germination rates during certain months and germinate regardless of light climate, even though light may aid germination, especially of the shoot portion.
Light intensity seems unimportant.
Turions can grow normally when suspended at 5 m depth even though Secchi depth is only 82 cm. In the laboratory, turions can be germinated in the dark, which suggests that excess pressure, rather than low light conditions, inhibits sago colonization beyond 5 m depths. After 30 days of growth, a turion can have developed a main stem bearing 2 rhizomes that have a total of 11 shoots. Laboratory tests show the carbohydrate reserves in turions are exhausted in 3 weeks. Turions can continue growth for several years.