Tag Archives: Asteraceae

Tetramolopium conyzoides (A. Gray) Hillebr.

Horseweed-like Pamakani (Tetramolopium conyzoides)

This species is an upright shrub with copious pubescence, it was found on the islands of Hawai’i, Lana’i, Maui and Moloka’i, Hawaiian Islands but is thought to be extinct now.

It was probably restricted to dry forests which are now largely destroyed by introduced ungulates. [1]

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References:

[1] Timothy K. Lowrey: A biosystematic revision of Hawaiian Tetramolopium (Compositae: Astereae). Allertonia 4: 325-339. 1986

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edited: 15.01.2019

Asteraceae gen. & sp. ‘Rapa Nui’

Rapa Nui Shrubby Aster (Asteraceae gen. & sp.)

At least six (!) different types of Asteraceae pollen are known from Easter Island’s deposits, most of which were recovered from the Rano Aroi crater at the Ma’unga Terevaka volcano, the largest and tallest of Rapa Nui’s volcanoes. This material, however, can only be assigned to a tribe within the family Asteraceae, to the Tubuliflorae, now known as Asteroideae, a group that is represented in the Polynesian region mainly by the very large genus Bidens.

This genus occurs with as many as at least 59 species, subspecies and varieties all over central, eastern and northern Polynesia. The place closest to Rapa Nui, the Pitcairn Islands, harbor at least two endemic species, the Henderson Island Beggarticks (Bidens hendersonensis Sherff) and the Pitcairn Beggarticks (Bidens mathewsii Sherff). Thus, it is absolutely possible that additional species also once inhabited Rapa Nui.

It appears that this species, or these species, disappeared quite recently, maybe shortly before the island was discovered by European seafarers. [1][2]

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References:

[1] J. R. Flenley; Sarah M. King: Late Quaternary pollen records from Easter Island. Nature 307: 47-50. 1984
[2] J. R. Flenley; Sarah M. King; Joan Jackson; C. Chew; J. T. Teller; M. E. Prentice: The Late Quaternary vegetational and climatic history of Easter Island. Journal of Quaternary Science 6(2): 85-115. 1991

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edited: 22.06.2020

Vernonia ampandrandavensis Humbert

Ampandrandava Vernonia (Vernonia ampandrandavensis)

This little tree is endemic to a region named Ampandrandava in the Toliara Province of southern Madagascar.

The species was last seen in 1944 and is considered likely extinct.

***

The photo below shows a related species, the Flat-scaled Vernonia (Vernonia platylepis Drake)

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Flat-scaled Vernonia (Vernonia platylepis)

Photo: Landy Rita
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/landyrita1
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

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edited: 05.01.2024

Blumea angustifolia Thwaites

Tight-leaved Blumea (Blumea angustifolia)

This species was described in 1859; it was restricted to a small area at the Mahaweli River on the island of Sri Lanka where it was found growing at damp places among rocks.

The Tight-leaved Blumea was a small perennial herb, only up to 25 cm tall, very gradually tapering at the base into a long petiole with small terminal cymes with only few, nodding yellow flowers. [1]

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Depiction from: ‘Henry Trimen: A Hand-Book to the Flora of Ceylon: containing descriptions of all the species of flowering plants indigenous to the island, and notes on their history, distribution, and uses: with an atlas of plates illustrating some of the more interesting species. London: Dulau & Co. 1893-1931’

(public domain)

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References:

[1] Henry Trimen: A Hand-Book to the Flora of Ceylon: containing descriptions of all the species of flowering plants indigenous to the island, and notes on their history, distribution, and uses: with an atlas of plates illustrating some of the more interesting species. London: Dulau & Co. 1893-1931

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edited: 28.02.2024

Hieracium tolstoii Fen. & Zahn

Tolstoi’s Hawkweed (Hieracium tolstoii)

This species, described in 1927, was restricted to the Alps of Lombardy, northern Italy; it is officially recognized as extinct since 2019. [1][2]

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References: 

[1] Fabrizio Bartolucci; Gabriele Galasso; Lorenzo Peruzzi; Fabio Conti: Report 2020 on plant biodiversity in Italy: native and alien vascular flora. Natural History Sciences. Atti Soc. it. Sci. nat. Museo civ. Stor. nat. Milano 8(1): 41-54. 2021
[2] Thomas Abeli; Giulia Albani Rocchetti; Zoltan Barina; Ioannis Bazos; David Draper; Patrick Grillas; José María Iriondo; Emilio Laguna; Juan Carlos Moreno-Saiz; Fabrizio Bartolucci: Seventeen ‘extinct’ plant species back to conservation attention in Europe. Nature Plants 7: 282-286. 2021

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edited: 11.02.2024

Egletes humifusa Less.

Spreading Tropical Daisy (Egletes humifusa)

The Spreading Tropical Daisy, a small terrestrial herb, is known only from the type material that was collected at the beginning of the 20th century somewhere along the central coast of the Guayas Province in Ecuador.

The species hasn’t been found ever since and, given the devasted state of the native vegetation in the locality, may well be extinct now.

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Photo: Naturalis Biodiversity Center
https://www.naturalis.nl
(public domain)

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edited: 08.02.2024

Psiadia schweinfurthii Balf. f.

Schweinfurth’s Psiadia (Psiadia schweinfurthii)

This species comes from the island of Socotra; it was collected in the 19th century near Kishan in the north of the Haggeher Mountains, in a botanically well-known and -studied area, and has not been found since; it is therefore very likely extinct. 

***

The author of the species, Isaac Bayley Balfour, mentions that it is very similar to the Arabian Psiadia (Psiadia punctulata Vatke) (see photo below), a species widespread in eastern Africa and mainland Arabia, from which it differs in the absence of sticky glandular hairs.

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Arabian Psiadia (Psiadia punctulata)

Photo: Floyd E. Hayes
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/floydehayes
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

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edited: 12.02.2024

Mikania iserniana Cuatrec.

Guayaquil Mikania (Mikania iserniana)

This species is known only on the basis of the type material which was collected in 1864 near the city of Guayaquil in the Guayas Province, Ecuador.

The vegetation of the region is now highly destroyed due to urban and agricultural development, the species was never recorded since the collection of the type material and is thus probably extinct.

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edited: 25.04.2021

Anisopappus burundiensis Lisowski

Burundi Anisopappus (Anisopappus burundiensis)

The Burundi Anisopappus, desribed in 1989, was restricted to the Republic of Burundi, a small country in central Africa.

The species was a small, shrubby plant with yellow aster-like flowers; having not be found in recent years, the species appears to be extinct now.

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edited: 27.01.2022

Senecio navugabensis C. Jeffrey

Navugabo Groundsel (Senecio navugabensis)

The Navugabo Groundsel was described in 1986, the species is known only from the type specimen that was collected in 1935 (according the the IUCN) or 1947 from a swampy area at Lake Navugabo in the Masaka District, southwestern Uganda.

The species was never recorded again despite it originating from a otherwise fairly-well collected area.

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edited: 26.09.2019

Wollastonia populifolia (Sherff) Orchard

Poplar-leaved Melanthera (Wollastonia populifolia)

This species was described in 1933, originally as a variety of the Subcordate Melanthera (Wollastonia subcordata (A. Gray) Orchard) from the island of Hawai’i.

The Poplar-leaved Melanthera is known only from the type material that was collected in 1918 somewhere in the Maunalei Valley on the island of Lana’i in the Hawaiian Islands, it is now considered extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] Warren L Wagner; Harold Robinson: Lipocaheta and Melanthera (Asteraceae: Heliantheae subtribe Ecliptinae): establishing their natural limits and a synopsis. Brittonia 53(4): 539-561. 2001

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edited: 04.06.2021

Mikania tafallana Kunth

Rio Daule Mikania (Mikania tafallana)

This species is known only on the basis of the type material which was collected sometimes before 1818 in the vicinity of the Río Daule near the city of Guayaquil in the Guayas Province, Ecuador.

The vegetation of the region is now highly destroyed due to urban and agricultural development, the species was never recorded since the collection of the type material and is thus probably extinct.

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edited: 25.04.2021

Vernonella africana Sond.

African Vernonella (Vernonella africana)

The African Vernonella inhabited a quite small area of coastal grassland along the eastern coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa which tioday is almost entirely transformed by agriculture and urban development.

This species was last found in 1895 and is now considered extinct.

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edited: 02.10.2020

Hieracium purkynei Čelak.

Purkyn’s Hawkweed (Hieracium purkynei)  

Purkyn’s Hawkweed is one of about 23 endemic plant species that are restricted to the Krkonoše Mountains, a mountain range located in the north of the Czech Republic and the southwest of Poland; this species occurred only at the Czech side of the border.

The species was a member of the Eginenthal Hawkweed aggregate (Hieracium gombense Lagg. ex Christen. agg.) (see photo).

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References:

[1] Milan Chytrý; Jiří Danihelka; Zdeněk Kaplan; Petr Pyšek: Flora and Vegetation of the Czech Republic. Springer 2017

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Eginenthal Hawkweed (Hieracium gombense Lagg. ex Christen.); plant on the right side

Depiction from: ‘Heinrich Gottlieb Ludwig Reichenbach; Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach: Icones florae Germanicae et Helveticae. Lipsiae: F. Hofmeister 1834-1912’

(not in copyright)

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edited: 02.10.2020

Erigeron adscendens Turcz.

Napo Fleabane (Erigeron adscendens)

The Napo Fleabane was described in 1851, the species was only ever found once, growing in wet wasteland at an elevation of 4000 to 4500 m somewhere at the foothills of the Antisana volcano in the Napo Province of Ecuador.

The species was never found since and might well be extinct.

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edited: 09.09.2019

Helianthus praetermissus E. Watson

Lost Sunflower (Helianthus praetermissus)  

The Lost Sunflower is an enigmatic species only known from a single specimen that was collected in 1851 in Cibola County in western New Mexico, USA.

The species was superficially quite similar to the Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), from which it differed by its rather narrow linear leaves; it was annual, reached a size of about 90 cm and had a single large flower with yellow florets.

***

The Lost Sunflower may be an extinct species, however, there is the possibility that it might turn out to be identical with the Pecos Sunflower (Helianthus paradoxus Heiser), itself an endangered species. 

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edited: 06.09.2020

Bidens simplicifolia C.H. Wright

Simple-leaved Beggartick (Bidens simplicifolia)

The Simple-leaved Beggartick was a terrestrial herb that was found only once, in 1897, near the Hacienda El Recreo in the Manabí Province of Ecuador.

The region has now lost almost all of its original forest cover and this species might well be extinct.

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Depiction from: ‘Earl Edward Sherff: The genus Bidens. Botanical Series. Field Museum of Natural History 16(1): 1-346. 1937’

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

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edited: 16.05.2022

Pilosella mayeri (Vollm.) Soják

Long-stoloned Mouse-ear Hawkweed (Pilosella mayeri 

The Long-stoloned Mouse-ear Hawkweed is, or was, a unfixed natural occuring hybrid that was restricted to two localities, the Mittelberg near Tegernheim as well as the Scheuchenberg near Donaustauf, both in Bavaria, Germany.

This form is now apparently extinct.

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edited: 02.10.2020

Plectocephalus gayanus (J. Rémy) Penneck. & Chaura

Gay’s Knapweed (Plectocephalus gayanus)

Gay’s Knapweed was described in 1849 based on material that had been collected somewhere in the hills of the Coquimbo Province, Chile.

The species is furtermore known to have also occurred in the Atacama region of the Huasco Province. [1]

***

I was not able so far to find any furter information about this enigmatic species.

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References:

[1] Diego Penneckamp; Rodrigo Chaura; Gloria Rojas; Tod Stuessy: Taxonomic notes on Plectocephalus (Centaurea s.l., Centaureinae, Asteraceae) from Chile, including new combinations and synonyms. Phytotaxa 437(4): 227-236. 2020

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edited: 01.11.2020

Hieracium sprucei Arv.-Touv.

Spruce’s Hawkweed (Hieracium sprucei)  

Spruce’s Hawkweed is known only from a single collection made somewhere in Ecuador in the 1880s, which, however lacks any information about the exact collection locality.  

The species may now be extinct, but this claim has to be resolved yet.

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edited: 02.10.2020

Tetramolopium tenerrimum (Less.) Nees

Koolau Pamakani (Tetramolopium tenerrimum)

The Koolau Pamakani was a small decumbent perennial shrublet that appears to have been restricted to the Ko’olau Mountains on the island of O’ahu, Hawaiian Islands.

The species has never been recorded since the 19th century and is thus considered extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] Timothy K. Lowrey: A biosystematic revision of Hawaiian Tetramolopium (Compositae: Astereae). Allertonia 4: 325-339. 1986

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Depiction from: ‘E. Drake del Castillo: Illustrationes florae insularum Maris Pacifici. Parisiis: G. Masson 1886’

(public domain)

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edited: 15.01.2019

Lipochaeta degeneri Sherff

Degener’s Lipochaeta (Lipochaeta degeneri)

Degener’s Lipochaeta was described in 1933 based on material that was collected near the southwestern point of Moloka’i in the Hawaiian Islands; the last of these collections date from 1928.

This species is almost certainly extinct now. [1]

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References:

[1] Warren L Wagner; Harold Robinson: Lipocaheta and Melanthera (Asteraceae: Heliantheae subtribe Ecliptinae): establishing their natural limits and a synopsis. Brittonia 53(4): 539-561. 2001

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edited: 04.06.2021

Tetramolopium consanguineum ssp. consanguineum (A. Gray) Hillebr.

Forest Pamakani (Tetramolopium consanguineum ssp. consanguineum)

The Forest Pamakani is a rather tall, upright growing shrub that may reach hegths of up to 2 m. [1]

***

The nominate race of the species is thought to have been found on the island of Kaua’i, the northernmost island of the Hawaiian main island chain, this taxon, however, is known exclusively from a single collection and the exact locality has never been recorded. 

The only other subspecies (Tetramolopium consanguineum ssp. leptophyllum (Sherff) Lowrey) is endemic to the island of Hawai’i, the species does not occur on any of the islands between Hawai’i and Kaua’i, making the record from Kaua’i very questionable.

The nominate race was never recorded since the type collection and is now considered extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] Timothy K. Lowrey: A biosystematic revision of Hawaiian Tetramolopium (Compositae: Astereae). Allertonia 4: 325-339. 1986

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Depiction from: ‘E. Drake del Castillo: Illustrationes florae insularum Maris Pacifici. Parisiis: G. Masson 1886’

(public domain)

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edited: 15.01.2019

Erigeron mariposanus Congdon

Foothill Fleabane (Erigeron mariposanus)  

The Foothill Fleabane is known only from material that was collected during the years 1892 to 1900, somewhere at the foothills of the central Sierra Nevada Mountains in Mariposa County of California, USA.  

The species was for some time treated as a synonym of Hartweg’s Fleabane (Erigeron foliosus var. hartwegii (E. Greene) Jepson), from which, however, it differs markedly.  

The Foothill Fleabane is thought to be extinct, the reasons for this, however, appear to unknown. [1]  

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References:  

[1] Guy L. Nesom: Revision of Erigeron sect. Linearifolii (Asteraceae: Astereae). Phytologia 72 (3): 157-208. 1992  

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edited: 09.09.2019

Cirsium toyoshimae Koidz.

Toyoshima’s Thistle (Cirsium toyoshimae)

Toyoshima’s Thistle was probably endemic to the island of Chichijima in the Ogasawara Islands, Japan, and appears to be known exclusively from herbarium sheets.

The plant had a basic rosette of larger oak leaf-like shaped leaves, the flowers were about 2 to 2,5 cm in diameter and appear to have been yellowish.

The species was never seen since 1936 and is almost certainly extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] Tetsuto Abe; Katsuyuki Wada; Nobukazu Nakagoshi: Extinction threats of a narrowly endemic shrub, Stachyurus macrocarpus (Stachyuraceae) in the Ogasawara Islands. Plant Ecology 198: 169-183. 2008

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edited: 14.01.2019

Tetramolopium arenarium ssp. laxum Lowrey

Loose Sand Pamakani (Tetramolopium arenarium ssp. laxum)

The Sand Pamakani occurs on the islands of Hawai’i and Maui, Hawaiian Islands, with the nominate race occuring on both islands and the subspecies, discussed here having been restricted to Maui only.

The Loose Sand Pamakani is considered extinct, the same was thought of the nominate race, which, however, was rediscovered in 1989. [1][2]

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References:

[1] Timothy K. Lowrey: A biosystematic revision of Hawaiian Tetramolopium (Compositae: Astereae). Allertonia 4: 325-339. 1986
[2] Patricia P. Douglas; Robert B. Shaw: Rediscovery of Tetramolopium arenarium Subsp. arenarium var. arenarium (Asteraceae: Astereae) on the Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 76(4): 1182-1185. 1989

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edited: 15.01.2019

Felicia annectens (Harv.) Grau

Annexing Cape Daisy (Felicia annectens)

This species, described in 1865, was only ever known from four localities on the Cape Peninsula of southern South Africa.

Annexing Cape Daisy was an annual, up to 15 cm tall, branched or unbranched delicate herb with about 2 cm long and 0.4 cm wide leaves, it had flower stalks up to 6 cm long with blue flowers.

The species, whose taxonomical status is somewhat questionable, is most closely related to the Cape Daisy (Felicia bergeriana (Spreng.) O. Hoffm.) (see photo below); it was apparently last recorded in 1915 and is thought to be extinct.

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Cape Daisy (Felicia bergeriana)

Photo: Chris Vynbos
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/vynbos
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ 

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edited: 15.01.2024

Vernonia ledocteana P. A. Duvign. & Van Bockstal

Copper Vernonia (Vernonia ledocteana)  

This remarkable highly specialized plant species was endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it was restricted to copper-rich soil.  

The species disappeared, together with several other highly specialized species, due to habitat loss by copper mining. [1]  

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References:  

[1] Michel-Pierre Faucon; Arthur Meersseman; Mylor Ngoy Shutcha; Grégory Mahy; Michel Ngongo Luhembwe; François Malaisse; Pierre Meerts: Copper endemism in the Congolese flora: a database of copper affinity and conservational value of cuprophytes. Plant Ecology and Evolution 143(1): 5-18. 2010  

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edited: 21.03.2018

Viguiera media S. F. Blake

Medium Goldeneye (Viguiera media)

The Medium Goldeneye is, or maybe was, a terrestrial herb that is known only from the type material which had been collected in 1849 near the city of Nabón in the Azuay Province of Ecuador.

The locality is now highly reduced resp. degraded and the species might well be extinct.

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edited: 05.05.2022

Wedelia oxylepis (S. F. Blake)

Guayaquil Oxeye (Wedelia oxylepis)  

This species is known only from the typus material, which was collected in the year 1918 near the city of Guayaquil in the Ecadorian province of Guayas.  

The natural vegetation in this area is now nearly completely destroyed, and therefore the Guayaquil Oxeye is most probably extinct.  

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edited: 17.05.2019

Vernonia sechellensis Baker

Seychelles Vernonia (Vernonia sechellensis)

The Seychelles Vernonia was endemic to the island of Mahé, Seychelles Islands, it is known only from the holotype, which had been collected in 1874 in the so called Forêt Noire, an area that appears to have been largely deforested since then.

The Seychelles Vernonia was a very small shrub, reaching only about 1,2 m in height.

The species was never found since 1874 and is clearly extinct.

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References:

[1] Justin Gerlach: Red List ing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phesluma 20: 9-22. 2012

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edited: 26.11.2018

Osteospermum hirsutum Thunb.

Hirsute African Daisy (Osteospermum hirsutum)

This species comes from South Africa, more precisely from the region in which today Cape Town is located; it disappeared around 1800 due to increasing urbanization.

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References:  

[1] N. A. Helme; T. H. Trinder-Smith: The endemic flora of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, Vol. 72(2): 205-210. 2006

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edited: 30.04.2021

Tetramolopium lepidotum ssp. arbusculum (A. Gray) Lowrey

Maui Scaled Pamakani (Tetramolopium lepidotum ssp. arbusculum)

The Scaled Pamakani (Tetramolopium lepidotum (Less.) Sherff) occurs on the islands of Lana’i, Maui and O’ahu, Hawaiian Islands, with the nominate occuring on Lana’i, where it is extinct, and O’ahu.

The Maui subspecies is known only o the basis of herbarium sheets that had been collected in 1844 at the crater of the Haleakala volcano, it was never recorded since and is now extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] Timothy K. Lowrey: A biosystematic revision of Hawaiian Tetramolopium (Compositae: Astereae). Allertonia 4: 325-339. 1986

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edited: 15.01.2019

Alepidea multisecta B. L. Burtt

Slit-leaved Alepidea (Alepidea multisecta)  

The slit-leaved Alepidea is only known from the type material that was collected in 1910 at Gaika’s Kop, a 1963 m high, isolated elevation in the Amathole Mountains in the South African Eastern Cape Province.  

Various searches for the species have failed and it must be considered likely extinct.

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edited: 30.04.2021

Senecio masatierrae (Pelser) 

Large-headed Robinsonia (Senecio masatierrae)

The Large-headed Robinsonia, called Incencio in its native land, was limited in its 
distribution to the Isla Robinsón Crusoe in the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile. 

There it grew as a small, sparsely branched tree 2 to 5 m high, with the vast majority of specimens remaining smaller. 

The species appears to have been relatively rare even at the time of its discovery. The last specimens were found on the cliffs near Puerto Francés in 1989, and since then there has been no trace of the species. Like many other island-endemic plant species, this one also fell victim to introduced herbivores (in this case goats). 

*** 

The genus Robinsonia has now been added to the genus Senecio, which means that some species have also been given new species names. [3]

***

syn. Robinsonia macrocephala (Decaisne), Symphyochaeta macrocephala (Decaisne)

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Photo from: ‘The Natural history of Juan Fernandez and Easter Island, edited by Carl Skottsberg. Vol. 2., Botany. Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksells Boktryckeri, 1920-1953’ 

(public domain)  

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References:  

[1] Marcia Ricci: Conservation status and ex situ cultivation efforts of endemic flora of the Juan Fernández Archipelago. Biodivers Conserv 15: 3111-3130. 2006 
[2] Andrés Moreira-Muñoz; Mélica Muñoz-Schick: Classification, diversity, and distribution of Chilean Asteraceae: implications for biogeography and conservation. Diversity Distrib. 13: 818-828. 2007 
[3] Pieter B. Pelser; Eric J. Tepe; Aaron H. Kennedy; Linda E. Watson: The fate of Robinsonia (Asteraceae): sunk in Senecio, but still monophyletic? Phytotaxa 5: 31-46. 2010  

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edited: 12.11.2016

Argyroxiphium virescens Hillebr.

Greensword (Argyroxiphium virescens)  

The Greensword was restricted to the eastern slopes of the Haleakala crater on eastern Maui.  

The plant, just like all the other species of the genus, grew as a rosette of numerous long, narrow leaves for several years, until, when finally full-grown, it produced its spectacular inflorescence, just to end up dead.  

The species, when flowering, reached a heigth of about 1,5 m.  

The Greensword disappeared because of the destruction of the vegetation caused by free-running cattle and sheep – the last individual was found in the year 1945.  

***

There seem to be some plants which may be hybrids of this species and of the Maui Silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense ssp. macrocephalum (A. Gray) Meyrat), however, their true identity seems to be debatable.  

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alleged Hybrid Silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense ssp. macrocephalum x virescens)  

Photo: Kim Starr & Forest Starr; by courtesy of Kim Starr & Forest Starr  

http://www.starrenvironmental.com

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edited: 06.03.2017

Commidendrum robustum ssp. gummiferum (Roxb.) Cronk

Saint Helena Gumwood (Commidendrum robustum ssp. gummiferum)  

The genus Commidendron consists of only four species, all of which are restricted to the island of Saint Helena.  

The 7 to 8 m tall Saint Helena Gumwood (Commidendrum robustum (Roxb.) DC.) is Saint Helena’s national tree and probably was once by far the most abundant tree on the island.  

The species can be split into two subspecies, of which the ssp. gummiferus is extinct today. However, there remains a population of hybrids at Peak Dale in the island’s southwestern center, in which this subspecies is at least genetically contained. The time of its extinction seems to be unknown.  

… but of course the reasons ….  

T. Cavendish in his report about the island (The Prosperous Voyage of M. Thomas Candish esquire into the South Sea, and so around about the circumference of the whole earth, begun in the yere 1586, and finished 1588.) wrotes:  

There are in this yland thousands of goates, which the Spaniards call Cabritos, which are very wilde: you shall see one or two hundred of them together, and sometimes you may beholde them going in a flocke almost a mile long. Some of them, (whether it be the nature of the breed of them, or of the country I wot not), are as big as an asse, with a maine like an horse and a beard hanging downe to the very ground: they will clime up the cliffes which are so steepe that a man would thinke it a thing unpossible for any living thing to goe there. We tooke and killed many of them for all their swiftnes: for there be thousands of them upon the mountaines.”  

Those trees, that escaped the goats’ appetite, were later cut down for fire wood.  

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References:  

[1] Q. C. B. Cronk: The decline of the St Helena gumwood Commidendrum robustum. Biological Conservation Vol. 35(2): 173-186. 1986  

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nominate race  

Depiction from: ‘John Charles Meliss: St. Helena: A Physical, Historical, and Topographical Description of the Island, including its Geology, Fauna, Flora, and Meteorology. London: L. Reeve & Co. 1875’  

(public domain)

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edited: 21.03.2018

Cirsium praeteriens J. F. Macbr.

Palo Alto Thistle (Cirsium praeteriens)

The Palo Alto Thistle was described in 1918, it is known only from two collections from 1897 and 1901 respectively.

The species resembles the probably closely related Franciscan Thistle (Cirsium andrewsii (A. Gray) Petr.) but differs from that species in having long involucral spines.

The Palo Alto Thistle was not found since the beginning of the 20th century and is considered extinct.

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edited: 14.01.2019

Senecio tasmanicus I. Thomps.

Tasmanian Fireweed (Senecio tasmanicus)

The Tasmanian Fireweed was described in 2004; it was very likely long extinct at that time.

The species was endemic to the island of Tasmania, where it was found at an unspecified place in the northern Midlands; it probably grew at lowland plains near swamps; it was actually last recorded in the mid 1800s and is now very likely extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] Mark Wapstra; Ian Thompson; Alex Buchanan: An illustrated and annotated key to the Tasmanian species of Senecio (Asteraceae). Kanunnah 3: 49-93. 2008

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edited: 13.08.2022

Bidens hendersonensis var. oenoensis Sherff

Oeno Island Beggartick (Bidens hendersonensis var. oenoensis)

The Henderson Island Beggartick is found on Henderson Island, Pitcairn Islands and also occurs or occurred on the nearby Oeno Atoll, some three variaties are sometimes distinguished, with the form from the Oeno Atoll being one of them.

The Oeno form was only collected once in 1991, and was probably last seen in 1997. 

***

The Oeno Island Beggartick is now sometimes treated as a synonym of the nominate form, I’ll mention it here just for the sake of completeness. 

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edited: 18.06.2019

Wollastonia bryanii (Sherff) Orchard

Bryan’s Melanthera (Wollastonia bryanii)

This species was described in 1933, it was restricted to the now highly degraded island of Kaho’olawe in the Hawaiian Islands.

The species is only known from the type material that was found amongst grassland, it is very likely extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] Warren L Wagner; Harold Robinson: Lipocaheta and Melanthera (Asteraceae: Heliantheae subtribe Ecliptinae): establishing their natural limits and a synopsis. Brittonia 53(4): 539-561. 2001

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edited: 04.06.2021

Brickellia chenopodina (Greene ex Wooton & Standl.) B. L. Rob.

Gila Brickellbush (Brickellia chenopodina)

 

The Gila Brickellbush is known only from the type that was collected in 1903 from alluvial soil at the river bank of the Gila River in Grant County, New Mexico, USA.

The species was never found since and is considered extinct.

***

The species is not accepted by all botanists and is considered by some to be an aberrant individual of the Chihuahuan Brickellbush (Brickellia floribunda A. Gray) (see photo below).

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Chihuahuan Brickellbush (Brickellia floribunda)

Photo: Conor Flynn
https://ecuador.inaturalist.org/people/conorflynn

(under creative commons license (4.0))
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

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edited: 25.04.2022

Anaphalis fruticosa Hook. f.

Bushy Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis fruticosa)

The Bushy Pearly Everlasting was described in 1881, the species was apparently restricted to Adam’s Peak, a 2243 m high mountain in the Ratnapura District of the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka.

The species is now considered likely extinct.

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edited: 26.09.2019

Ozothamnus selaginoides Sonder & F. Muel.

Clubmoss Everlasting (Ozothamnus selaginoides)  

This species was described in 1853.  

The Clubmoss Everlasting, also known as Table Mountain Daisy Bush, was restricted to the Table Mountain area in the Central Highlands of Tasmania, Australia.  

It was a slender, branching shrub between 0,5 to 1 m tall, the branches were covered with tiny hairs. Its daisy-like flower-heads, consisting of eight to 12 single flowers, appeared in dense clusters at the ends of the branches, they were creamy-yellow.  

The species was not found since 1849 and is believed to be extinct.  

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Depiction from: ‘J. D. Hooker: The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839-1843: under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross. London: Reeve Brothers 1844-1860’  

(not in copyright)

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edited: 06.11.2017