Deep within the remote mountains of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, a remarkable population of ancient tree ferns has been thriving undisturbed for centuries. Conservationists recently confirmed that over 3,000 spider-monkey tree ferns (Alsophila spinulosa), a species dating back to the Jurassic Period, are flourishing in a 428,000-acre forest reserve near De’an Town.
The discovery was made last month when wildlife filmmaker Zhou Baolin stumbled upon the prehistoric plants while scouting locations for a nature documentary. “I had seen them on television before, and when I saw these tall ferns, I thought they resembled those ancient species,” Zhou told China News Service. “So, I reported the finding to the authorities.”
Nestled at an elevation of 1,500 meters within Ning’er County’s protected woodlands, the colony forms a verdant canopy beneath towering hardwoods. Some specimens reach up to three meters tall, and botanists note that the ferns grow both in dense clusters along stream banks and as solitary sentinels throughout the rugged terrain.
Unlike typical small ferns, Alsophila spinulosa can grow up to 15 meters in height. Its huge, geometrically patterned canopy resembles a peacock displaying its glamorous tail. Interestingly, this fern doesn’t flower or bear fruit; instead, it reproduces through tiny spores hidden on the undersides of its leaves.
During the time of the dinosaurs, Alsophila spinulosa was a primary food source due to its starch-rich stem. Today, local communities utilize the starch to make wine. As a living fossil, the fern provides valuable insights into geological and environmental changes over millions of years and is currently under second-class state protection in China.
In response to the discovery, local authorities plan to establish a protected zone around the grove and deploy monitoring devices to ensure the ferns’ continued preservation.
