I was skimming over an article about extinct plants and I was astonished to learn that some plants have only become extinct a few years ago. I even noticed that there is one type of orchid that was declared extinct in 2022 despite all the taken precautions to preserve the rare plants species.
Causes of Plant Extinction
Soil changes: it occurs due to the excessive use of fertilizers, soil pollution, and pesticides overuse, which make the soil climate unsuitable for some plants.
Invasive plants: this phenomenon happens when new plants are introduced into warm and humid climates. These plants tolerate harsh conditions and grow very quickly if conditions are favorable, making the native plants in this environment unable to compete with these new plants. Moreover, the appearance of related animals and organisms may affect the native plants in the area.
Human activities: some human activities, such as agriculture, land clearing, and attempts to relocate plants from their native habitats, have caused the extinction of some species, especially those that need precise conditions for growth and mating.
Climate change: It is natural for plants to adapt to climate changes; the time it takes for each plant to adapt to these changes varies. Some plants need a long time to adapt; these are the same plants that often cannot keep up with the rapid climate changes. As a result of their failure to adapt, they become extinct.
Examples of Extinct Plants
- Franklin Tree
The Franklin tree is an example of a plant that became extinct in the wild; however, thanks to its cultivation in gardens and greenhouses it survived. If it were not for its white camellia-like flower, people would not have continued to cultivate it until now.
The Franklin tree was named after the famous scientist Benjamin Franklin; it was a wild tree that grew in the southeastern United States and was first identified in 1765; however, after less than half a century, exactly at the beginning of the nineteenth century, it completely disappeared from the wild, proving its extinction.
- St. Helena Olive
The plant Nesiota elliptical was named St. Helena olive because it used to grow wild on the island of St. Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic that was home to many wild plants. Unexpectedly, it is not a plant that produces any type of olive, rather it is a flowering tree from the buckthorn family, which includes the jujube tree.
With the arrival of the Portuguese on the island in 1502 and their activities in deforestation and the introduction of certain animals, such as goats that fed on wild plants, this species faced extinction. The last cultivated tree died in 2003, confirming its extinction.
- Jovellana Florida
It is a large-flowered orchid indigenous to the state of Florida. It was first discovered in 1957, but unfortunately it was misidentified as another species at the time. The delay in its identification and distinction may have contributed to its rapid extinction, as there were only 25 plants remaining at the time of its discovery. It is likely that over-hunting has led to their rapid extinction before any protective measures could be taken. In 2022, the species was officially listed as extinct, decades after its last confirmed sighting in 1964.
- Cystophora Algae
In 2022, about seven species of Cystophora algae were confirmed to be functionally extinct across their geographic range, which extends along the southern coasts of Australia. They have been described as functionally extinct, as they do not have any effective ecological role within their natural habitat. The causes of these species' extinction are attributed to climate change, unprecedented heat waves, and urban expansion.
Environmental Organizations Role in Preventing Plants Extinction
Several environmental organizations contribute with significant effort to preserve rare or endangered plant species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) prepares a list of endangered plant species, which helps authorities to set priorities to protect these species. The UNESCO also contributes to the development of international policies to protect the natural plant habitats and build the appropriate conservancies for them. Some organizations are also involved in replanting rare plant species, in addition to launching community awareness campaigns highlighting the vital role of plants in maintaining the ecological balance.
The extinction of some plants is not just about losing these rare species, but a direct threat to the environmental balance that sustains human life and other organisms alike. Climate change, human activities, and other practices that harm the environment are key factors that accelerated the risk of plant extinction. Nevertheless, there is still an opportunity to address this threat to the environment through the efforts of the environmental organizations and their conservation programs, but most importantly, we must not forget our own role in preserving our environment as well.
References
farbio.com
therevelator.org
treehugger.com
Cover photo by Freepik