What Are Plant Living Fossils? Ginkgo and Dawn Redwood Make the List

Plant living fossils are plants that appeared very early in geological history and have retained their original morphological features through the long ages. Most of their ancient relatives have gone extinct, and only they survive to this day, which gives them high value for studying the origin and evolution of plants.

When people talk about plant living fossils, the best known is undoubtedly ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba). It is the sole surviving member of the ginkgo family, with distinctive fan-shaped leaves that turn the whole tree golden in autumn; today it is often used as a street tree and an ornamental garden tree. The dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is likewise very famous; this tall deciduous conifer was once thought to be long extinct, and its rediscovery within China caused a great sensation.

In addition, cycads, commonly known as iron trees, have a lineage that can be traced back to the era when dinosaurs dominated; they grow slowly and have stiff, striking feathery fronds, making them familiar ornamental plants to many people. When the dove tree (Davidia involucrata) blooms, its white bracts look like white doves spreading their wings, which is why it is called the dove flower tree. Cathaya (Cathaya argyrophylla), tree ferns (Alsophila), golden camellia (Camellia nitidissima), and tulip tree (Liriodendron chinense) are also among the more widely recognized living fossil plants.

Most of these plants have narrow distribution ranges and few wild individuals, and many have been listed as key protected species. For ordinary people, species such as ginkgo and cycads can be grown in courtyards or as potted plants on balconies, offering both ornamental value and a sense of the charm of ancient life; rare species such as Cathaya and the dove tree, on the other hand, are better appreciated in nature reserves and botanical gardens, and wild plants encountered should be treated with care.