Rare living fossil tree found in Guangxi region

Forestry staff in Liuzhou, located in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, have made a significant discovery with the identification of a dense population of the endangered cycad tree known scientifically as Alsophila spinulosa, or the flying spider-monkey tree fern. This newly found site boasts over 1,000 individual plants covering approximately seven acres, marking it as the largest known wild population of this species in the Liuzhou region.

Recognized as a 'living fossil,' Alsophila spinulosa is designated as a nationally protected plant in China. The discovery of such a substantial population does not merely add to the biodiversity of Liuzhou; it also contributes essential insights into the study of ancient plant evolution, historical climate variations, and the overall health of regional ecosystems.