Rare 'living fossil' tree discovered in Guangxi

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An aerial drone photo shows the wild cycad population in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on March 10, 2026. /VCG

The wild cycad population in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 10, 2026 /VCG

Forestry staff inspect the wild cycad population on site in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 10, 2026. /VCG

A close-up of a wild cycad plant in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on March 10, 2026 /VCG

Forestry staff in Liuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, have recently identified a dense population of the endangered cycad tree Alsophila spinulosa, also known as the flying spider-monkey tree fern. The site contains over 1,000 plants spread across roughly seven acres, making it the largest known wild population of this species in Liuzhou.

Known as a "living fossil," the cycad is a nationally protected plant in China. This discovery not only expands the city's inventory of wild plant species but also offers valuable insight for studying ancient plant evolution, past climate changes, and the integrity of regional ecosystems.

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