Gasteranthus extinctus
| Gasteranthus extinctus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Gasteranthus extinctus | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Gesneriaceae |
| Genus: | Gasteranthus |
| Species: | G. extinctus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gasteranthus extinctus L.E.Skog & L.P.Kvist
| |
Gasteranthus extinctus is a species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.[1] The species is a small herb that produces bright orange flowers that gave rise to the genus name Gasteranthus ("belly flower").[2]
Conservation[edit]
Gasteranthus extinctus was declared extinct after large areas of the rainforest where it occurred were cleared for farmland. On April 15, 2022, the plant was rediscovered in the foothills of the Andes mountains, and in patches of cloud forest in the Centinela region of Ecuador, almost 40 years after it was last sighted.[3][4][5] G. extinctus was subsequently reclassified as critically endangered.
Sources[edit]
- ^ a b Clark, J.L.; Skog, L.E.; Pitman, N. (2004). "Gasteranthus extinctus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T45338A10992670. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T45338A10992670.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "'Extinct' flower rediscovered in Ecuador after forest destruction". www.nhm.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ^ Bugel, Safi (2022-04-15). "Wildflower believed to be extinct for 40 years spotted in Ecuador". The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
- ^ Pitman NC, White DM, Andino JG, Couvreur TL, et al. (15 April 2022). "Rediscovery of Gasteranthus extinctus L.E.Skog & L.P.Kvist (Gesneriaceae) at multiple sites in western Ecuador". PhytoKeys (194): 33–46. doi:10.3897/phytokeys.194.79638. PMC 9033745. PMID 35586327.
- ^ Amanda Kooser (April 15, 2022). "Scientists Rediscover Lost Wildflower Named 'Extinctus,' but It's Still Endangered". CNET.com.
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