'Living fossils': Cycads Society urges owners to protect endangered Bread Palm Tree

Current and prospective owners of the endangered Cycad have been reminded of the enormous importance and significance of these ancient plants.

The Cycad Society of South Africa in the Western Cape is committed to protecting one of the oldest plant species in the world.

The Cycad, also known as the Bread Palm tree, is a species within the Cycadaceae family. Despite growing all over the world, the Bread Palm tree is considered an endangered species.

Strict Laws Protect Cycads
Owning or selling this plant without a permit is illegal in South Africa, and offenders could face a hefty fine or jail time.

Ferdie Endemann, Deputy Chair for the Cycad Society of South Africa in the Western Cape, explains that the Bread Palm tree is considered a "living fossil."

"Today these are living fossils and a lot of them are endangered all over the world, especially the ones from Africa. And South Africa is one of the focus areas of biodiversity for cycads. So, we've got in the region of about 30 species of cycad in Southern Africa and then about another 30 in the rest of Africa.”