Cycads are plants of great antiquity, being the oldest living representatives of the Gymnosperms - the first seed-bearing plants. They are the descendants of the Bennettitales (cycad-ferns) which flourished in the Mesozoic age and probably dominated the vegetation of the world some 200 million years ago.

Though the cycads bear a physical resemblance to palms (and some, to ferns), botanically they are related to the conifers, since cycads bear their seeds in cones.

This one is in our son & daughter-in-laws garden, though our own is on equal size it flowered ( for the want of a better word )a little earlier but I missed getting a photo. This cone is around 45cm long and as round as a bread & butter plate.