The Taxus cuspidata cluster discovered in Jilin province. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

A rare natural cluster of Taxus cuspidata was recently discovered in the pristine forests of Changbai Mountains, Northeast China's Jilin province. This 2.5 million-year-old "living fossil" is China's only yew species native to the northeast and has been nationally protected since 1992.

This newly discovered yew population is located within a mountainous area in Helong at altitudes ranging from 700 to 1,200 meters. The forest spans hundreds of hectares and includes trees of various ages. There are over 1,000 mature trees with trunk diameters of 10-40 centimeters, and remarkably, six ancient trees exceeding one meter in diameter are estimated to be over a thousand years old. Additionally, many young and new seedlings indicate the forest's robust natural regeneration capacity.

Experts consider this finding significant for studying the genetic resources and conservation of the endangered Northeast yew. The insights gained from this discovery may inform improved protection strategies, helping ensure the long-term survival and sustainability of this ancient and valuable species in China's northeastern ecosystem.