The only known specimens of Encephalartos woodii (E. woodii), a species of cycad, are all clones of the same male plant found over 100 years ago in a South African forest.

Now a team of researchers is on a mission to find an elusive female version of the plant, with the help of drones and artificial intelligence.

They’ve been around since before the time of dinosaurs. They were once widespread, but today they are actually the most threatened and the most endangered plants on our planet.

The only known wild specimen of E. Woodii was discovered in 1895 by the botanist John Medley Wood while he was on an expedition in the Ngoye Forest in South Africa. All the plants in existence today in botanical gardens around the world are clones of this same specimen.