Bot. Rev. (2018) 84:295–314 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-018-9203-z Comparative Biology of Cycad Pollen, Seed and Tissue - A Plant Conservation Perspective J. Nadarajan1,2 & E. E. Benson 3 & P. Xaba 4 & K. Harding3 & A. Lindstrom5 & J. Donaldson4 & C. E. Seal1 & D. Kamoga6 & E. M. G. Agoo7 & N. Li 8 & E. King9 & H. W. Pritchard1,10 1 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TN, UK; e-mail:
[email protected] 2 The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand; e-mail
[email protected] 3 Damar Research Scientists, Damar, Cuparmuir, Fife KY15 5RJ, UK; e-mail:
[email protected];
[email protected] 4 South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa; e-mail:
[email protected];
[email protected] 5 Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Chonburi 20250, Thailand; e-mail:
[email protected] 6 Joint Ethnobotanical Research Advocacy, P.O.Box 27901, Kampala, Uganda; e-mail:
[email protected] 7 De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines; e-mail:
[email protected] 8 Fairy Lake Botanic Garden, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; e-mail:
[email protected] 9 UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK; e-mail:
[email protected] 10 Author for Correspondence; e-mail:
[email protected] Published online: 5 July 2018 # The Author(s) 2018 Abstract Cycads are the most endangered of plant groups based on IUCN Red List assessments; all are in Appendix I or II of CITES, about 40% are within biodiversity ‘hotspots,’ and the call for action to improve their protection is long- standing.