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How does sympodial growth occur in many cycads?
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Cycadophyte
Cycas circinalis.
In many cycads, sympodial growth occurs when the plant's apical meristem is converted from a vegetative function to a reproductive one, transforming into a strobilus (cone).
Because the original terminal bud ceases vegetative growth to produce the cone, a new vegetative meristem arises to one side of the cone meristem. As this new meristem grows and enlarges, it displaces the cone to the side. This process repeats, allowing the plant to maintain an appearance that is deceptively monopodial (single-stemmed) even though the actual growth pattern is sympodial.1