Lahore’s 176-year-old ‘living fossil’ palm brings a piece of dinosaur-era history to life

A 176-year-old Queen Sago Palm, belonging to a plant lineage that existed long before dinosaurs, is in full leaf at Lahore’s historic Lawrence Garden, highlighting the city’s rich botanical heritage.

According to the Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA), the rare tree predates the garden, which was developed in the 1860s as a botanical and recreational space modelled on London's Kew Gardens. 

The Queen Sago Palm belongs to the cycad family, an ancient group of seed-bearing plants whose fossil record dates back approximately 280 to 300 million years. 

These plants flourished during the Mesozoic Era, when dinosaurs dominated the Earth. Herbivorous dinosaurs, including long-necked sauropods, are believed to have fed on their foliage and seeds.

Often described as "living fossils", cycads are known for their slow growth and exceptional longevity. However, around 60 per cent of assessed cycad species face extinction threats in their natural habitats.

The PHA said Lawrence Garden houses approximately 150 varieties of trees, including 30 palm varieties, making the historic site an important botanical attraction.