Cycas belongs to Order Cycadales of gymnosperms. Its leaves show circinate vernation (i.e., the leaves are coiled in young stage). The coralloid roots in Cycas arise from the lateral branches of the normal roots and contain blue-green algae like Nostoc and Anabaena.

A well developed flower like that of angiosperms is absent in Cycas. It has compact cones containing microsporophylls and megasporophylls. The megaspores are loosely arranged on the megasporophyll. The male cone is a compact structure. Vessels in xylem are absent and it contains only tracheids for conduction of water.