Soil depth and substrate influence the development of a trunk-like stem or a subterranean trunk. Leaves of cycads are pinnate. Some species can be bipinnate or even resemble fern fronds. This is why cycads are often mistaken as palms. Cycads reproduce sexually by cones.
Plants are dieocious, developing large cones.
Male cycads produce pollen cones while female cycads produce seed cones. Recent studies have shown that pollination is largely dependent on weevils. It is believed the weevils begin in the male cone, are attracted to the female cones by pheromones, and carry pollen from the male to the female. Cycad seeds are very large and brightly colored. The most common colors are reds, purples, and yellows.