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Cylindrocline lorencei : THE TREE THAT CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD!!

Cylindrocline lorencei : THE TREE THAT CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD!!

Cylindrocline lorencei

THE TREE THAT CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD!!

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.

Cylindrocline lorencei

This small tree, which grows to around 6 feet and has was only found on the island of Mauritius and only ONE had ever been seen in the Plaine Champagne region, in the 1970s.  By 1990 the species was believed to be extinct. Worse, the only seed which had been preserved could not be germinated. 

Recently, however, Brest Botanic Gardens in France was able to rescue embryos in vitro from non- viable seeds. Since then at Brest and at Kew Botanic Gardens in the UK, these seeds have germinated and a small population of Cylindrocline lorencei is flourishing!  Plans are now underway to re-establish the tree in Mauritius.  Eventually it is hoped to reintroduce the tree to its native habitat in the Black River Gorges National Park.

 

(c) mauritiusmag.com

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