Cupressus sempervirens , Cupressaceae, Italian cypress. Striking, columnar form of one species in a genus of about 22 evergreen trees or shrubs from Europe, Asia, and North America with very small, scalelike leaves, very small male cones, and globose female cones commonly about an inch in diameter. Cupressus guadalupensis S. Wats. Cycas circinalis , Cycadaceae, sago palm. Stout palm-like tree from India to the Philippines with leaves up to two feet wide and nine feet long that are cut into many segments like a feather.
Male plants bear cones that are about two feet long and five inches in diameter.
Female plants bear modified leaves that have 6-10 large naked seeds along the edges. The seeds are poisonous when raw but may be ground into flower for bread. The trunks also yield sago, which is high in starch content, but has been reported to be carcinogenic. St. John courtyard. Cyperus papyrus , Cyperaceae, papyrus.