The Conversation Weekly
A lonely ancient plant needs a female partner – researchers are using drones and AI to find it
Sep 19, 2024
Laura Cinti, a research fellow at the University of Southampton, is on a mission to save the world's 'loneliest' plant, Encephalartos woodii, which has no known female counterpart. She discusses the challenges of locating this ancient cycad, all while employing cutting-edge drones and AI technology. Cinti shares compelling anecdotes about the detective work involved in this quest and emphasizes the urgent need for biodiversity conservation. This intriguing conversation highlights the intersection of science and art in preserving our planet's unique flora.
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Quick takeaways
- Researchers are utilizing drones and AI to enhance the search for a female Encephalartos woodii, crucial for its reproduction.
- The plight of the world's 'loneliest' plant highlights the broader ecological importance of conserving plant species and biodiversity.
Deep dives
The Search for the Last of Its Kind
A rare plant species known as Encephalatus woodi has become notorious for its extinction in the wild since all existing specimens are clones of a single male discovered over a century ago. Researchers are striving to locate a female plant, which is crucial for sexual reproduction and genetic diversity. This quest embodies the hope that other specimens might still exist in the unexplored sections of the Nagoya forest in South Africa, where the original plant was found. The challenges of finding the elusive female include historical illegal poaching, habitat destruction, and the plant’s rarity, making each search feel like a game of botanical detective work.
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