Final answer:
A botanist would distinguish cycads from palm trees by noting that cycads possess seeds in cones, whereas palms produce flowers and seeds within fruits. Cycads have large, compound leaves and typically grow as short shrubs or trees.
Step-by-step explanation:
To distinguish between cycads and palm trees, a botanist would look for specific reproductive structures. Cycads are gymnosperms and thus do not produce flowers; instead, they bear large cones for reproduction. If reproductive structures are present, the botanist would note that cycads possess seeds in a type of cone, whereas palms, which are flowering plants, produce flowers and seeds within fruits. Cycads also tend to have large, finely-divided, pinnately compound leaves and usually grow as short shrubs or trees. Conversely, palms typically exhibit a more elongated stem with large, single leaves.
Understanding these distinctions is crucial, as some cycads are considered endangered species, and their trade is severely regulated to prevent extinction.A botanist can distinguish between cycads and palm trees by looking for the presence of seeds in cones. Cycads produce seeds in cones, while palm trees produce seeds in fruits. This is one key difference between the two types of plants. Other differences include the presence of double fertilization and vascular tissue, but the presence of seeds in cones is the most distinctive characteristic.