Cylindrocline lorencei explained

Cylindrocline lorencei is a small tree that was native to the island of Mauritius, with only one specimen ever observed in the wild. By 1990 the species was considered extinct, and the only available seed could not be germinated. Brest Botanic Gardens successfully performed in vitro culture of a viable part of the seed embryo, saving the plant from extinction. Through further vegetative propagation at Brest and Kew Botanic Gardens, a small population of Cylindrocline lorencei has been grown and efforts are now underway to re-establish it in its native habitat.[1] [2] [3]

Description

Cylindrocline lorencei is a small tree growing up to 2m (07feet) high, with branches in the upper part that are densely covered in leaves in terminal rosettes. Leaves are olive-green colored with yellow-green veins, grow in spirals, and are attached directly to the stem or with a very short petiole. The oblanceolate shaped leaf is 12to long and 4.5to wide, with fine hairs on the upper surface and heavily covered with fine hairs underneath.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The original specimen of Cylindrocline lorencei grew at 700m (2,300feet) elevation in Black River Gorges National Park in a region called the Plaine Champagne. The habitat is lower elevation ericoid shrubland, and the plant was found growing along with Helichrysum, in laterite soil.

Conservation

The material for the type specimen was collected in 1973 by botanist David H. Lorence, who observed only one plant in the Plaine Champagne area. Fruit collected in 1980 confirmed the survival of the plant up to that time. Due to the death of that plant, the species was considered to be extinct in the wild as of 1990, even though the IUCN Red List for 1997 still classified it as Endangered—probably because they were unaware of the death of the single plant.

Several plants have been propagated and are growing at the Native Plant Propagation Centre at Curepipe in Mauritius. If those plants survive, attempts will be made to reestablish the plant in its native habitat in Black River Gorges National Park. Brest Botanic Gardens and Kew Botanic Gardens also continue to grow populations of the plant.

In June 2024, after following a precise protocol, around a hundred plants were reintroduced into the wild in the conservation areas of Mauritius.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cylindrocline lorencei. Magdalena. Carlos. Nicholas Hind. Kew Plants & Fungi. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 28 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101231233436/http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Cylindrocline-lorencei.htm. 31 December 2010. dead.
  2. Web site: Actions internationales: les plantes menacees. Conservatoire botanique national de Brest. French. 28 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101212224741/http://www.cbnbrest.fr/site/html/International/plante_mencacees.html. 12 December 2010. dead.
  3. "Rescued by Brest Botanic Gardens by rescuing embryos in vitro from non-viable seeds." Web site: Plants back from the brink of extinction at Kew Gardens. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 28 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110101033914/http://www.kew.org/ucm/groups/public/documents/document/ppcont_016024.pdf. 1 January 2011. dead.
  4. Scott. Andrew. 1987. A second species of Cylindrocline (Compositae-Inuleae). 4109712. Kew Bulletin. 42. 476.
  5. Web site: Brest, ils font revivre une plante de l'île Maurice disparue depuis plus de 30 ans . Le Télégramme . 25 June 2024 . fr . 25 June 2024 . Une centaine de Cylindrocline lorencei nés à Brest ont été, au terme d’un protocole précis, réintroduits dans les aires de conservation de l’Île Maurice au mois de juin 2024..