sago palm
• noun
A slow-growing, palm-like cycad native to southern Japan, widely cultivated globally as an ornamental houseplant or warm-climate landscaping feature.
"Because the sago palm is highly toxic to dogs, we decided against planting one in our backyard."
A true palm tree native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia and New Guinea, characterized by a thick trunk from which commercial sago starch is harvested.
"Indigenous communities in Papua New Guinea rely heavily on the sago palm as a primary source of dietary carbohydrates."
Word Nuance & Usage
The term 'sago palm' most commonly refers to a popular ornamental cycad that is highly toxic to pets and not a true palm, which creates botanical confusion with the actual palm trees of Southeast Asia that produce edible sago starch.
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Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.