SUNDAY 25 AUGUST 2019Ancient plant reproduces in
UK after 60m-year break
Climate change is believed to have caused the revival
The Japanese sago palm has produced female (left) and male cones (Getty/VBG )
PHOEBE WESTON
A prehistoric palm living on the Isle of Wight has produced male and female cones for the first time in 60
million years, botanists say.
The exotic palm – which dominated the planet 280 million years ago – is believed to be thriving on the cliffs
of Ventnor Botanic Gardens because of climate change. The garden is on average five degrees warmer than
the rest of the mainland, making it the second warmest part of the UK after the Isles of Scilly.