Sago palm is a common name for several plants which are used to produce a starchy food known as sago. Sago palms may be "true palms" in the family Arecaceae, or cycads with a palm-like appearance. Sago produced from cycads must be detoxified before consumption. Plants called sago palm include:Metroxylon, a genus in the palm family (Arecaceae) native to Southeast Asia Cycads Cycas revoluta,, native to Japan and widely cultivated as an ornamental plant Cycas rumphii,, native to southeast Asia Cycas circinalis,, native to India