Post by Melanie on Jun 1, 2012 22:30:31 GMT 1
A RARE plant on the brink of extinction is flourishing at one of the region’s top gardens.
Logan Botanic Garden in the South Rhins, near Stranraer, has two of only four known plants of Rhododendron Kanehirae in the world.
The endangered species of Rhododendron is believed to be extinct in the wild following flooding of the river banks around its only known natural locality in Northern Taiwan, caused by a dam that was built in 1984.
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) recently published a Red List of Rhododendrons assessing the conservation status of each plant species as recent research has indicated that a quarter of the 1,157 species are under threat in the wild.
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The organisations says that Rhododendron Kanehirae would be extinct but for the plants that are growing at Logan and the other two being nurtured at Logan’s parent garden, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The plants at Logan came from Fushan Botanic Garden in Taiwan growing on the margin of sub-tropical rainforest and is now thriving in its walled garden, growing up to one metre high and covered in bright pink funnel shaped flowers during April and May.
Logan Botanic Garden curator Richard Baines said: “Botanic gardens such as Logan can play a vital role in modern day conservation when so many plant species are under threat.
“It is encouraging to see that the outlook for this species is much more encouraging now and the hope is that we can reintroduce it to its natural environment.’’
www.dgstandard.co.uk/dumfries-news/local-news-dumfries/local-news-dumfriesshire/2012/06/01/two-of-only-known-plants-of-a-rare-species-are-thriving-in-the-region-51311-31085673/
Logan Botanic Garden in the South Rhins, near Stranraer, has two of only four known plants of Rhododendron Kanehirae in the world.
The endangered species of Rhododendron is believed to be extinct in the wild following flooding of the river banks around its only known natural locality in Northern Taiwan, caused by a dam that was built in 1984.
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) recently published a Red List of Rhododendrons assessing the conservation status of each plant species as recent research has indicated that a quarter of the 1,157 species are under threat in the wild.
article_mpuAdvertisement
The organisations says that Rhododendron Kanehirae would be extinct but for the plants that are growing at Logan and the other two being nurtured at Logan’s parent garden, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The plants at Logan came from Fushan Botanic Garden in Taiwan growing on the margin of sub-tropical rainforest and is now thriving in its walled garden, growing up to one metre high and covered in bright pink funnel shaped flowers during April and May.
Logan Botanic Garden curator Richard Baines said: “Botanic gardens such as Logan can play a vital role in modern day conservation when so many plant species are under threat.
“It is encouraging to see that the outlook for this species is much more encouraging now and the hope is that we can reintroduce it to its natural environment.’’
www.dgstandard.co.uk/dumfries-news/local-news-dumfries/local-news-dumfriesshire/2012/06/01/two-of-only-known-plants-of-a-rare-species-are-thriving-in-the-region-51311-31085673/