Coralloid roots contain the symbiotic cyanobacteria Anabaena to aid in nitrogen fixation. Cycad stems can be trunk-like or subterranean. It is slow growing and can range from three feet to fifty feet in height. 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.