This is the World's Loneliest Tree

Tucked away in a corner of London's Royal Botanic Gardens, there is a very peculiar plant. At first glance, it resembles a stumpy palm tree, but this ancient specimen is incredibly rare. It is, in fact, the very last of its kind on Earth. Encephalartos woodii is a cycad, a type of plant that once dominated the planet during the Jurassic Period. Over the millennia, the age of the cycad came to an end. And in the case of Encephalartos Woodii, we may have been left with only one—a single male specimen. This tree is the loneliest bachelor on Earth.

This story is a part of our Planet Earth series. From mammals to insects and birds to reptiles, we share this great big world with all manner of creatures, large and small. Come with us to faraway places as we explore our great big planet and meet some of its wildest inhabitants.

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[anxietywave]

I never thought i'd feel so sorry for a tree.

Hang in there buddy.

[holycarrot]

"Let's give this tree a friend"-Bob Ross

[brandonyang]

I have never felt so much emotions about a Tree.

[jagwinderlal]

I immediately came back here after reading an article about a cycad found in Masungi Georeserve in the Philippines. I’m so proud for my country having a tree that is at least a piece of the past.

[allivecars]

Tree : i want a girlfriend before i die
Genie : granted
Tree : nothing happend
Genie : you're immortal now

[giraffeman]

“Everyone needs a friend... even a tree.”

- Bob Ross

[theunfunny]

If he can talk, imagine all the story' he can tell

[Bruce_T]

_"In the mean time, it'll have me to keep him company"_

**sad tree noises**

[OllenOllen]

“In the meantime he’ll have me to keep him company.”

What a bro👊

[jzk]

"In the meantime, he'll have me to keep him company...."

Tree: "I appreciate the offer mate, I really do - but I don't swing that way. I'm flattered though."

[barrysteakfry]

"I've looked after him for 20 years"

That's a serious flex.

[RedFlxme]

Damn that tree about to die a virgin feels bad...

[smj]

why do I feel so freaking bad for this tree

[devarrelayubpulungan]

what if there was a female and it got cut down by someone who doesn't know how rare it is.

[alnabulsi]

That botanist is a lovely gentleman, I never thought I would feel sad for a tree being lonely but I'm genuinely glad the tree has such a kind and dedicated friend 💚

[lanemeyer]

poor tree, I bet his girl is out there somewhere...

[mehol]

Why do I feel like they are gonna find another one of these and it's going to be male aswell?

[JeandrePetzer]

My mum's house in South Africa still has three healthy cycads, and several others in varying stages of wild growth - so I'm assuming this is a special variant talked about in this video.
They're quite the menace to maintain if you want a good looking garden. There was lots of trimming off of long dead leaves in favour of the living ones, and the prickles/teeth on the leaflets are not at all kind to bare skin. Was surprised to hear animals loved to perch on top of them

[rayandwho]

Random British guy: wow nice tree
Also him: imma take this to England