Sago and New Guinea and is the primary source of sago. It tolerates a wide variety of soils and may reach 30 meters in height (including the leaves). Several other species of the genus "Metroxylon", particularly "Metroxylon salomonense" and "Metroxylon amicarum", are also used as sources of sago throughout Melanesia and Micronesia. Sago palms grow very quickly, in clumps of different ages similar to bananas, one sucker matures, then flowers and dies. It is replaced by another sucker, with up to 1.5 m of vertical stem growth per year. The stems are thick and are either self-supporting or have a moderate
Plant sources of anti-cancer agents podophyllotoxin which is found in "Podophyllum peltatum" (May Apple). Chemicals extracted from clippings of "Taxus brevifolia" (Pacific yew) have been used as the basis for two chemotherapy drugs, docetaxel and paclitaxel. Contains ingenol mebutate (Picato) which is used to treat skin cancer Trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) is an antibody conjugated to a synthetic derivative of the cytotoxic principle of the Ethiopian plant "Maytenus ovatus". It used to treat breast cancer. Plant sources of anti-cancer agents Plant sources of anti-cancer agents are plants, the derivatives of which have been shown to be usable for the treatment or prevention of cancer in humans.