The World's Loneliest Plant
By - Shruti Sanwariya
* * *
Encephalartos Woodii, a
cycad native to South Africa, is known as the
world's loneliest plant due to the absence of any
known female specimens.
The Last of Its Kind
* * *
This rare plant was
discovered in 1895 by British botanist John Medley
Wood in the Ngoye Forest of South Africa.
Discovery
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Without a female
counterpart, Encephalartos Woodii can only reproduce
asexually, producing clones of itself through
offsets or suckers.
Asexual Reproduction
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All existing specimens of
Encephalartos Woodii are clones of the original
plant, housed in botanical gardens around the
world.
Global Distribution
* * *
Efforts are underway to
preserve this unique species, but without a female
plant, natural reproduction remains
impossible.
Conservation Efforts
* * *
Encephalartos Woodii serves
as a poignant reminder of the fragility of
biodiversity and the importance of conservation
efforts.
Symbol of Extinction
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