Cycads are often called “living fossils,” though this is something of a misnomer. Many other plant groups are just as ancient, and most modern cycad lineages didn’t diversify until the Cenozoic. Still, cycads were certainly present and widespread during the Mesozoic, with the most common fossil genera being Ctenis and Pseudoctenis. The latter appears to represent a distinct lineage, likely distantly related to Cycas, though its exact relationships remain uncertain. Pseudoctenis may not be a natural genus, but rather a catch-all mostly for various early members of the Zamiaceae family. Despite the taxonomic ambiguity, whole-plant fossils with Pseudoctenis-type leaves are known from the Mesozoic and show remarkable preservation. Notable examples include Leptocycas and Holozamites from the Triassic, which display the familiar cycad form: a stout trunk with diamond-shaped leaf scars, a crown of Pseudoctenis-type leaves, and a central terminal cone. Some species, like Leptocycas gracilis, had relatively narrow stems compared to broader forms such as Leptocycas yangcaogouensis or Holozamites.