Why is the Jurassic Period sometimes called the Age of Cycads?

The Jurassic Period is frequently referred to as the "Age of Cycads" because of the widespread proliferation and dominance of cycads and their extinct relatives, the cycadeoids, within terrestrial ecosystems during that time.12

These palmlike gymnosperms thrived alongside conifers and ginkgos, forming a significant portion of the global vegetation. Their success was part of a broader era where gymnosperms dominated the landscape, as they were well-adapted to the warm, generally frost-free climates that characterized much of the Jurassic environment. While cycads remain in existence today, the Jurassic period represents the peak of their historical prevalence and ecological importance.134