Cycadoprida: History of Study, Value, Perspectives of Use

Abstract

Representatives of Cycadopsida – a group of ancient plants, that appeared in the Permian period of the Paleozoic era. During the Jurassic and Triassic periods of the Mesozoic, they were an indispensable component of the plant communities until the appearance and distribution of representatives of Magnoliophyta. Today, 307 taxa of cycads are known. Plants of some species are traditionally used by the local population in everyday life, for food or in folk medicine. For various reasons, populations of most species are endangered. Some cycads species are no longer found in nature. All species of Ceratozamia, Chigua, Encephalartos and representatives of Cycas beddomei Dyer, Microcycas calocoma Miq. A. DC., Stangeria eriopus (Kunze) Baill are listed in I appendix CITES list. The remaining species of Cycadaceae are listed in appendix II. Most representatives of Cycadopsida are listed in the Red List of International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Recent studies have shown the presence in valuable herbs of Cycadopsida of valuable, and sometimes, unique compounds and phytocomposition that can be used in pharmacy and cosmetology. In the work, the scientific, practical and historical significance of the Cycadopsida is formulated, the traditional methods of their use and perspectives of study are indicated. Taking into account the main directions of scientific and educational work carried out in the NBG M.M. Gryshko National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, with the collection of Cycadopsida, provides information on the history of the discovery and study of the representatives of this group of ancient gymnosperms. In the context of the formation of the modern taxonomic hierarchy of the Cycadopsida mentioned the most prominent scientists who were engaged in descriptions and study of this group of plants.