Rare and Threatened Plants: The Top 10

More and more species are threatened by climate change or by humans. We present ten rare and endangered plants that need to be saved.

When talking about endangered species, the focus is usually on rare animals. But the number of plant species is also falling dramatically - in Germany alone, a third of wild plants are considered endangered. And the reasons for this often lie with people: habitats are used for agriculture or residential areas destroyed, wild herbs and other rare plants have no place in modern agriculture more. Experts estimate that this development is causing around 50 to 150 animal and plant species to become extinct every day. Here are ten rare plants that are threatened with extinction and must now be preserved.

Rare and endangered plants

Rare plants exist on all continents and come in a wide variety of shapes and colors. You can find out here which are among the rarest on earth.

10. Chocolate Cosmetics

The heavenly smell of the chocolate cosmetics (Cosmos atrosanguineus) is highly coveted by gardeners and ensures that the scented plant found in many gardens. But did you know that the chocolate cosmé was briefly on the brink of extinction? The plant has been considered extinct in its native Mexico since 1902, for a long time all were available chocolate cosmetics are pure offshoots of a survivor in the Kew Gardens in London specimen. In 2010, however, fertile plants were found in New Zealand, which is why new crosses and varieties can now be bred.

9. Lathyrus belinensis

sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is probably known to most gardeners, after all the plant with its strong scent is a great addition to the bed. However, few people know that sweet peas have a close but rare relative. Lathyrus belinensis is the name of the new vetchling species that was first discovered in Turkey in 1987. Its special feature: Instead of white, pink or violet (as we are used to from sweet peas), it blooms Lathyrus belinensis in a bright yellow-orange. The plant has since been crossed with sweet peas to produce two-tone vetches such as 'Turquoise Lagoon'. Nevertheless, it applies Lathyrus belinensis still classified as critically endangered, as fewer than 1000 specimens of this plant are said to exist.

8. frank line

The Frank Line (Franklinia alatamaha), also known as the Franklin tree, is a deciduous shrub in the USA that can reach a height of up to ten meters. The frank line has a lot to offer in terms of looks: its creamy-white, bowl-shaped flowers are up to twelve centimeters in size and give off a sweet smell. In autumn, the tree also shows an intense coloration with red, purple and orange leaves. Unfortunately, the plant has become rare today. A wild specimen was last seen in 1803, today there are only about 2000 specimens worldwide, most of which are in botanical gardens and parks. The reason for the near extinction of the beautiful tree is believed to be a fungal disease that was introduced to the homeland of the Frank lineage via infected cotton.

7. Cyanea

With the cyanea (Cyanea) there is an entire plant genus that is threatened with extinction. The 80 or so species belonging to this genus are native only to the Hawaiian Islands, where they thrive in dense semi-arid and moist forests. However, due to forest fires and overgrazing, the Cyanea have been pushed back far, and invasive plant species are also making life difficult for the plant genus. Ten species and one subspecies are now considered extinct, and 32 other species are threatened with extinction.

6. Hibiscus arnottianus

the hibiscus (Hibiscus) is certainly known to most gardeners. But did you know that the variety Hibiscus arnottianus var. immaculate one of the rarest plants in the world? The beautiful exotic with the completely white flowers is native to Hawaii and can only be found in a few valleys on Molokai. Also the superior species Hibiscus arnottianus is considered critically endangered. In the meantime, however, there are also cultivated forms of the beautiful hibiscus - under the name 'Kanani Kea' and 'Shy Girl' Hibiscus arnottianus found as an ornamental plant.

5. Eriosyce chilensis

cacti and succulents are particularly popular as houseplants. For this reason is also the Eriosyce chilensis, a cactus from Chile, is threatened with extinction: although the plant naturally only grows in a small area on the Common along the Chilean coast, the pretty succulent was collected illegally to be resold as a houseplant will. Especially their yellow to fuchsia-red flowers make them Eriosyce chilensis extremely popular, but its spherical growth also ensures a high decorative value. However, experts assume that there are now fewer than 500 free-living plants.

4. orchids

orchids (Orchidaceae) should be among the rarest plants in the world? For many, this thought is initially incomprehensible, after all, the beautiful flowers can be found in almost every household. But the genus of orchids includes several species that are only rarely found. The orchid named 'Cayman Islands Ghost' (Dendrophylax fawcettii) is only found on a single island in the Cayman Islands, for example. The is considered to be even rarer Rhizanthella gardneri, which lives completely underground and in which only the flower breaks through the ground. The unusual orchid is found in just six locations in Western Australia and is listed as an endangered species with fewer than 100 specimens.

3. impoverished sedge

Admittedly, visually the impoverished sedge (Carex depauperata) rather unspectacular, but the plant is still in great demand. The impoverished sedge is probably the rarest plant in Germany. For a long time it was considered extinct here, until a single specimen of the plant was rediscovered on the Luxembourg border in 2011. In 2013, employees of the Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden managed to breed the impoverished sedge in culture, which should ensure its survival in Germany.

2. Tahina spectabilis

With a trunk height of up to ten meters and a leaf length of five meters, it is a real giant - the Tahina spectabilis is hard to miss. It is all the more unusual that the plant was only officially described in 2008. In fact, the palms, which grow in a sparsely populated area of ​​northeastern Madagascar, were discovered back in 2005, but for members of the genus Borassus held. Experts only became aware of the error when a couple photographed the palm trees in bloom. In fact, it is the Tahina spectabilis the only fan palm in Madagascar that only blooms once in its life and then dies. Unfortunately, the palm tree is not only unique, but also rare - only about 90 specimens are known to date.

1. Dombeya mauritiana

For a long time it was thought that the Dombeya mauritiana been exterminated in the wild. In 1976 a single representative of this genus was found and fortunately a few cuttings were collected that could be cultivated. But in 2009 there was a sensation: Researchers discovered another wild plant of the mallow family in its native Mauritius. Now there is hope that the two plants carry enough genetic variety to make the Dombeya mauritiana to bring it back to its former glory. But currently the mallow plant is still considered one of the rarest plants in the world.

You can also find here 10 unknown and exotic fruits.