Critically endangered / Extinct in the wild

greatnorthernexotic · April 2021

This is my young dendroseris litoralis (cabbage tree) along with some seedlings I'm growing this year. It's a bit of an ugly duckling but there's an allure of owning a plant classed as critically endangered, especially one with such an interesting backstory.

My favourite dendroseris litoralis facts:

It is native to a single small group of islands in the South Pacific, the Juan Fernandez Islands.
Alexander Selkirk, the real life inspiration behind Robinson Cruse, ate the leaves of the dendroseris litoralis whilst marooned for five years on what is now called Robinson Crusoe Island.
Feral goats, introduced in the 18th century by sailors such as Selkirk, almost led to the plant's extinction. By the 1980s, there were only 3 specimens left in the world.
In the wild, it is pollinated by a type of hummingbird only found on the Juan Fernandez Islands. They number roughly 500.

What plants do you own which are classed as critically endangered or extinct in the wild?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/vu/5hl91v7irasu.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/aw/eqz6mv5gy79a.jpg

Marlorena · April 2021

...interesting plant and history and it's good that you have obtained this specimen.. I do hope it works out for you, I expect it needs specific conditions..?. and you have plenty of seedlings to keep things going... perhaps you could spread them around ?..

... the only endangered plant I've had used to be called Chordospartium muritai, it then changed to Carmichaelia muritai, it's a native of south island NZ, and at the time only 12 plants remained in the wild as it's eaten by lots of animals.. I got my plant of a nurseryman in Essex who specialised in NZ plants... he was called Graham ?.. forgot the surname..
..well of course I've moved on from that garden, and couldn't take the plant with me.. so..

best of luck with yours..

greatnorthernexotic · April 2021

Yes from what I've read once they're past seedling stage they're relatively easy to maintain. I've planted the seeds in sphagnum moss as per the instructions of Mike Clifford (of Mike's Rare Plants) from whom I bought the seeds.

Chordospartium muritai looks otherworldly, which I suppose is true for a lot of island plants! The only Graham in Essex I could find was at http://www.countyparknursery.co.uk/ - I'll keep an eye out for some Kiwi rarities!

Marlorena said:

...interesting plant and history and it's good that you have obtained this specimen.. I do hope it works out for you, I expect it needs specific conditions..?. and you have plenty of seedlings to keep things going... perhaps you could spread them around ?..

... the only endangered plant I've had used to be called Chordospartium muritai, it then changed to Carmichaelia muritai, it's a native of south island NZ, and at the time only 12 plants remained in the wild as it's eaten by lots of animals.. I got my plant of a nurseryman in Essex who specialised in NZ plants... he was called Graham ?.. forgot the surname..
..well of course I've moved on from that garden, and couldn't take the plant with me.. so..

best of luck with yours..

Marlorena · April 2021

..yes, County Park Nursery, that's the Graham.. I didn't know he was still in business there... it's similar to a Broom [Cytisus] plant, leafless as I recall..

..thanks for the link..

..nice to get a rare plant off a specialist.... I've not heard of Mike's Rare Plants..

didyw · April 2021

Fascinating! Always interesting to read about different plants. I used to like Roy Lancaster when he was on Gardeners World, or Gardeners Question Time or whichever garden programme was on, as he, being a plant explorer himself, always talked about more unusual plants. Will be interested to see pics of your dendroseris as it (they, if your seedlings come through!) develops.

greatnorthernexotic · April 2021

I found him after his garden featured on GW last year, funnily enough! https://twitter.com/MikesRarePlants

Marlorena said:

..nice to get a rare plant off a specialist.... I've not heard of Mike's Rare Plants..

Marlorena · April 2021

..oh ok.. I see he lives in Poole, Dorset.. so that's quite a good place to grow tropicals and suchlike... Abbotsbury, not far away..

amancalledgeorge · April 2021

Some nice extra info from the RHS
https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/publications/the-plant-review/2018-issues/june/discovering-an-island-castaway.pdf

greatnorthernexotic · April 2021

didyw said:

Fascinating! Always interesting to read about different plants. I used to like Roy Lancaster when he was on Gardeners World, or Gardeners Question Time or whichever garden programme was on, as he, being a plant explorer himself, always talked about more unusual plants. Will be interested to see pics of your dendroseris as it (they, if your seedlings come through!) develops.

I'll keep you updated!

rachelQrtJHBjb · April 2021

Marlorena said:

...interesting plant and history and it's good that you have obtained this specimen.. I do hope it works out for you, I expect it needs specific conditions..?. and you have plenty of seedlings to keep things going... perhaps you could spread them around ?..

... the only endangered plant I've had used to be called Chordospartium muritai, it then changed to Carmichaelia muritai, it's a native of south island NZ, and at the time only 12 plants remained in the wild as it's eaten by lots of animals.. I got my plant of a nurseryman in Essex who specialised in NZ plants... he was called Graham ?.. forgot the surname..
..well of course I've moved on from that garden, and couldn't take the plant with me.. so..

best of luck with yours..

I have a feeling there's a Chordospartium specimen in the New Zealand section of The Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park.

Marlorena · April 2021

Well, I wouldn't know but if there is I would expect it to be Chordospartium stevensonii, which I think is not as rare..

Critically endangered / Extinct in the wild

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