Urgent mission to protect five endangered plants

FIVE species of plant in Granada will be extinct in the next decade, according to research.

The Granada plants are in urgent need of protection if they are to survive, claim scientists from Spain’s Royal Botanic Gardens.

The ‘Endangered Species Project Zero’ aims to protect the five plants: Avellara fistulosa (chicory hollow), Castrilanthemum debeauxii (Castril Daisy), Gyrocaryum oppositifolium (nomevés), Naufraga Balearica (Castaway) and rivas-martinezii Pseudomisopates (false dragoncillo).

A team of scientists from Granada University are now analyzing the plants genetic diversity and reproductive biology evolutionary origin.

Lead researcher Pablo Vargas explained: “This project is a pioneer in plant conservation in Europe.”