sago palm

noun

: a plant that yields sago: such as
a
: any of various large pinnate-leaved palms (genus Metroxylon) of tropical southeastern Asia and especially one (M. sagu) that is the main source of commercially-produced sago
b
: a cycad (Cycas revoluta) of subtropical Japan with palmlike fronds that is often grown in warm regions as an ornamental plant and has leaves and seeds toxic especially to animals

Examples of sago palm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Among those special single specimen plants, most installed near the house, are several prehistoric and unusual plant varieties, including the sago palm; cycads, including Dioon, Encephalartos and Zamia; and the Queensland bottle tree. Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2023 What is happening to my sago palm? Neil Sperry, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Sep. 2022 At the time, their front yard was a very green lawn with Indian hawthorn shrubs under the windows and a sago palm in one corner by the sidewalk. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2023 This is a sago palm, not a true palm, but a lookalike, also known as a Cycad. Neil Sperry, San Antonio Express-News, 11 June 2021 Some plants to avoid are calla lily, sago palm, azalea and rhododendron, among others. Star Tribune, 28 May 2021 Maisy and Murphy started receiving treatments to combat the effects of the sago palm less than two hours after ingesting the plant's seeds. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 28 Apr. 2021 Last year, every single frond on my sago palm turned brown and died. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2021 Because of drought and water-use restrictions, it has been used in recent years as a decorative planter, with flowers and sago palms. Scott Huddleston, ExpressNews.com, 10 Apr. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sago palm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sago palm was in 1769

Dictionary Entries Near sago palm

Cite this Entry

“Sago palm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sago%20palm. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sago palm

noun
: a palm or cycad that yields sago
especially : any of various tall tropical palms that have leaves with numerous leaflets

Medical Definition

sago palm

noun
: a plant that yields sago
especially : any of various lofty pinnate-leaved Malaysian palms (genus Metroxylon)

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