Panzhihua Cycas Forest

Panzhihua Cycas Forest

Introduction to the Panzhihua Cycas Forest On the right bank of the Baguan River in the western district of Panzhihua City lies a highly precious natural cycas forest. Cycas, also known as iron tree, first appeared on Earth approximately 280 million years ago during the Permian period of the Paleozoic era. Having endured immense changes over time, it has experienced multiple periods of prosperity and decline. The surviving cycad species now belong to just one family, 10 genera, and about 110 species, and are hailed as “living fossils” of the plant kingdom. In 1971, during a vegetation survey conducted by the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the former Feipu Forest Farm of Panzhihua City, this cycas forest was discovered. Covering an area of over 300 hectares with more than 100,000 plants, it is the highest-latitude, largest-area, most-numerous, and most-concentrated primitive cycas forest ever found in the world. After identification, it was confirmed to be a rare new species of cycas, named “Panzhihua Cycas.” International cycad expert Turner, after visiting the site, exclaimed, “This is a treasure of China and the world!” Cycas is a well-known ornamental garden tree species with high aesthetic value.

What makes the Panzhihua Cycas even more remarkable is that it forms buds every year and blooms annually. As the saying goes, “An iron tree blooms and a horse grows horns,” and “A thousand-year-old iron tree blooms,” which shows how rare it is for cycas to flower. However, healthy male Panzhihua Cycas plants can bloom every year, while female plants can bloom once every two years. This is truly a wonder of the world. From March to June each year, tens of thousands of yellow flower buds in the cycas forest compete in beauty. Individual plants look like a Buddha’s hand holding pearls, and the entire forest resembles a colorful carpet spread across the ground. The specks of yellow among the lush green create a unique and spectacular landscape. Since 1990, Panzhihua City has held an annual Cycas Appreciation and Trade Fair named after the cycas. The name of the Panzhihua Cycas has spread far and wide, gaining fame both domestically and internationally. The Panzhihua Cycas, along with the Zigong Dinosaur and the Pingwu Giant Panda, is celebrated as one of the “Three Wonders of Bashu.”

Sichuan, Panzhihua