In his book on the evolution of life, paleontologist Richard Fortey described Encephalartos woodii (E. woodii) as possibly the most solitary organism on Earth. This plant, native to South Africa, belongs to the cycad family—a group of robust plants with thick trunks and large, stiff leaves that form a majestic crown. Cycads have survived since the time of dinosaurs and multiple mass extinctions, yet today they face severe endangerment.

The sole wild E. woodii was discovered in 1895 by botanist John Medley Wood during a botanical expedition in South Africa’s Ngoye Forest. Despite extensive searches, no other specimens were found in the area. Over subsequent decades, botanists transferred stems and offshoots to gardens to ensure their survival. In 1916, fearing the plant’s extinction in the wild, the Forestry Department relocated the last remaining stem to a protective enclosure in Pretoria, South Africa.

Although E. woodii has since been propagated globally, it confronts a critical dilemma. All existing plants are clones derived from the Ngoye specimen, and all are male, rendering natural reproduction impossible. E. woodii’s story is a testament to both survival and isolation.

Inspired by the plight of this solitary plant and the prospect of finding a female counterpart, our research employs remote sensing technologies and artificial intelligence in the search within Ngoye Forest.

Cycads’ Evolutionary Journey

Cycads are the oldest surviving group of plants, often dubbed “living fossils” or “dinosaur plants” due to their lineage dating back 300 million years to the Carboniferous period. Flourishing during the Mesozoic era (250-66 million years ago), known as the Age of Cycads, they thrived in the warm, humid climates of that time.

Despite resembling ferns or palms, cycads are distinct as gymnosperms, akin to conifers and ginkgos. Unlike flowering plants, they reproduce via cones, with male and female cones distinguishable only upon maturity.

Female cones are typically broad and spherical, while male cones are elongated and narrow. Pollination occurs through pollen produced by male cones, carried by insects like weevils to female cones—an ancient reproductive method preserved over millions of years.

Despite their longevity, cycads today are among the planet’s most endangered organisms, primarily due to slow growth, lengthy reproductive cycles spanning ten to 20 years, and habitat loss from deforestation, grazing, and overharvesting. Cycads have become emblematic of botanical rarity, prized in exotic horticulture, and unfortunately subject to illegal trade. Rare species like E. woodii command exceptionally high prices, making them targets for poaching.

Technological Innovations in Conservation

In our efforts to locate a female E. woodii, we have utilized advanced technologies for aerial surveys. Between 2022 and 2024, drone surveys covered 195 acres (equivalent to 148 football fields), generating detailed maps from thousands of photographs. This effort, albeit covering only a fraction of Ngoye Forest’s 10,000 acres, employed AI to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

Given E. woodii’s presumed extinction in the wild, synthetic images were integrated into the AI model’s training. This approach improved the algorithm’s ability to recognize cycads by shape in diverse ecological settings.

With plant species globally facing alarming rates of disappearance, the lack of genetic diversity among existing E. woodii clones heightens vulnerability to environmental changes and diseases. Historical parallels include the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s and the susceptibility of clonal Cavendish bananas to Panama disease, reminiscent of the Gros Michel banana crisis in the 1950s.

The discovery of a female E. woodii would mark a pivotal moment, potentially rescuing the species from extinction. A female plant would enable sexual reproduction, introducing genetic diversity crucial for conservation efforts.

E. woodii serves as a poignant reminder of Earth’s biodiversity fragility. Yet, our quest for a female E. woodii signifies hope, demonstrating that timely action can rescue even the most imperiled species.