Superb Shots thanks for sharing Neil Ji On Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 10:37 PM, Neil Soares <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > Hi, > Thought this might be interesting. > With regards, > Neil Soares. > > > > > > > > > > > When spring is in full swing, there is no denying how beautiful the world > looks. The trees get new leaves and with them come an array of colorful > flowers. Here are the list of rare, endangered and in some cases extinct in > the wild flowers. The reason most of these carry the title of rare, is > because humans do not have the ability to work in perfect harmony with > nature. Regardless of what drove them to become rarities, the following > plants are far and few between, and having the opportunity to see one for > yourself should be a celebrated occurrence. > > *10. Jade Vine - Strongylodon macrobotrys* > The jade vine is a rare woody vine native to the tropical rainforests of > the Philippines. It is a member of the pea and bean family and is closely > related to kidney beans. The plant carries claw shaped flowers which grow > from hanging trusses; they can reach up to three meters in length. The > flower's color can vary from blue green to mint green. The species has > proven extremely difficult to propagate, and is considered an endangered > species due to the destruction of its habitat and a decrease in natural > pollinators. <http://mails.forwards4all.com/> > <http://mails.forwards4all.com/>[image: > DilSeDesiGroup]<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > > *9. Corpse Flower - Rafflesia arnoldii* > This fascinating flower is found mainly in low lying tropical rainforests > of Indonesia. This is one of the world's rarest, most endangered and > largest flowers and it can reach a total width of over a meter. The > Rafflesia's survival is totally dependent on a specific vine called the > Tetrastigma vine. As the Rafflesia is a bodiless, stemless, leafless, > rootless parasite, it requires the vine for nourishment and support. It is > also a carrion plant, which means that it releases a pungent rotten flesh > smell when in bloom to attract flies and carrion beetles to aid in > pollination. Once in bloom, the flower will only last about a week before > dying. <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/>[image: > DilSeDesiGroup] <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > > *8. Gibraltar Campion - Silene tomentosa* > This species of Campion is particularly rare and is only found on the high > cliffs of Gibraltar. This plant was believed extinct by the entire > scientific community outside Gibraltar in the 1980s but the Gibraltar > botanical section knew there were a few specimens left. Sadly, by 1992 all > traces of the plant had vanished and it was declared extinct. In 1994 a > single specimen was discovered by a climber on the inaccessible cliffs and > the species came back to life. It was propagated at the millennium seed > bank and specimens are grown at The Almeda Gibraltar Botanic Gardens as > well as the Royal Botanic Gardens in London. > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/>[image: > DilSeDesiGroup] <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > > *7. Franklin Tree - Franklinia alatamaha* > This tree is a part of the tea family but is the sole species in its genus > and a very rare flowering plant. The tree is native to the Altamaha river > valley in Georgia, but has been extinct in the wild since the early 19th > century. In fact this beautiful tree is only known today because of the > Bartram family, who were avid horticulturists and propagated the tree > before its extinction in the wild. The plant, which has fragrant white > blooms and leaves that turn into a bright red color in fall, is now a > popular ornamental plant. All the examples of this tree today stem from one > of the trees propagated by the Bartram's. > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/>[image: > DilSeDesiGroup] <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > > *6. Parrot's Beak - Lotus berthelotii* > This is a beautiful flower that has been classed as exceedingly rare since > 1884. It is believed to be completely extinct in the wild, but a few > individuals might have survived. This stunning plant is endemic to the > Canary Islands and is believed to have originally been pollinated by > sunbirds, which have long since become extinct in the Canary Islands. This > could help to explain the scarcity of the plant. Experiments have been > undertaken to find new pollinators for the flowers, in hopes that they can > successfully be reintroduced to the Islands, but as of 2008, no fruit had > been successfully produced. The Parrot's beak is however cultivated in the > horticulture trade, which can allow even you to own one! > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/>[image: > DilSeDesiGroup] <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > > *5. Chocolate Cosmos - Cosmos atrosanguineus* > This is a dark red to brown species of Cosmos, native to Mexico. Sadly it > has been extinct in the wild for over a hundred years. The species survives > today as a single non fertile clone, which was created in 1902 by > vegetative propagation. The flowers which are produced by the plant are a > rich deep red to brown color and grow to about 3-4 cm in diameter. The > flowers have a lovely vanillin fragrance in the summer (also found in > vanilla beans, some coffee beans and some cacao beans), which also makes it > a wonderful ornamental plant. > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/>[image: > DilSeDesiGroup] <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > > *4. Kokai - Kokai cookei* > This is an extremely rare tree, endemic to Hawaii. It was discovered in > 1860, at which time only three specimens could be found. The tree proved > difficult to propagate, and by 1950, after the last seedling died, it was > deemed extinct. In 1970 a sole survivor was found, which was sadly > destroyed in a fire in 1978. Luckily one of the branches of that last > remaining tree was saved, and grafted into 23 trees that exist today, all > of which are situated in various places in Hawaii. The Kokai is a small > tree that grows to about 10-11 meters high. Their most striking feature has > to be the hundreds of bright red flowers that mature trees produce > annually. Sadly that is a rarity which few will be privileged to see. > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/>[image: > DilSeDesiGroup] <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > > *3. Yellow and Purple Lady Slippers - Cypripedium calceolus* > This is an extremely rare type of wild orchid found across Europe. > Britain's only example of this plant, which used to be more common and > widespread, can be found on a golf course and has been under strict police > protection since 1917. A single cutting can be sold for US$5000, which is > shocking as the plant is very difficult to propagate. Its seeds bear no > nourishment for the growing plant, so it lives in a symbiotic relationship > with a specific type of fungus, which provides it with nourishment, until > the adult leaves can produce enough nourishment for the plant, at which > time the fungus will also live off it. There are many types of Lady slipper > orchids, many of which are rare. This specific type, has dark purple to > almost red brown tendrils with a bright yellow slipper or moccasin. > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/>[image: > DilSeDesiGroup] <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > > *2. Ghost Orchid - Epipogium aphyllum* > The Ghost orchid is a fascinating rare plant that was presumed extinct for > almost 20 years, only recently did it rear its head again. The plant is so > rare because it is basically impossible to propagate. It has no leaves, > does not depend on photosynthesis and does not manufacture its own food. > Like the Lady slipper, it needs a specific fungus in close contact with its > root system, which feeds it. The Ghost orchid never grows leaves, and will > therefore always depend on the fungus for its nourishment. The Ghost orchid > can live underground for years, without showing any external signs and will > only bloom when all conditions are optimum. This explains why some orchid > enthusiasts search for years and years just to have a glimpse of this > elusive flower. <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/>[image: > DilSeDesiGroup] <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > > *1. Middlemist Red - Middlemist camellia* > This is probably the rarest flowering plant in the world as there are only > 2 known examples. One can be found in a garden in New Zealand and the other > is situated in a greenhouse in Britain. The plant was originally brought to > Britain from China by John Middlemist (after whom the plant was named) in > 1804. It has since been completely wiped out in China. The plant in Britain > remained barren for years and only started bearing flowers recently. The > flowers are, contrary to its name, bright pink in color and look almost > rose like. It is believed to be highly possible that more examples of this > species has survived in people's gardens, unbeknown to them, as it was once > sold directly to the public by John Middlemist. > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/>[image: > DilSeDesiGroup] > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > BEST REGARDS, > _._,_.___ > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join/> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- Regards Dr Balkar Singh Head, Deptt. of Botany and Biotechnology Arya P G College, Panipat Haryana-132103 09416262964
