10. Jade Vine
Strongylodon macrobotrys
The jade vine is a rare woody vine native to the tropical rainforests
of the Philippines. It is a member of the pea and bean family and is
closely related to kidney beans. The plant carries claw shaped flowers
which grow from hanging trusses; they can reach up to three meters in
length. The flower’s color can vary from blue green to mint green. The
species has proven extremely difficult to propagate, and is considered
an endangered species due to the destruction of its habitat and a
decrease in natural pollinators.
9
Corpse Flower
Rafflesia arnoldii
This fascinating flower is found mainly in low lying tropical
rainforests of Indonesia. This is one of the world’s rarest, most
endangered and largest flowers and it can reach a total width of over a
meter. The Rafflesia’s survival is totally dependent on a specific vine
called the Tetrastigma vine. As the Rafflesia is a bodiless, stemless,
leafless, rootless parasite, it requires the vine for nourishment and
support. It is also a carrion plant, which means that it releases a
pungent rotten flesh smell when in bloom to attract flies and carrion
beetles to aid in pollination. Once in bloom, the flower will only last
about a week before dying.
8
Gibraltar Campion
Silene tomentosa
This species of Campion is particularly rare and is only found on the
high cliffs of Gibraltar. This plant was believed extinct by the entire
scientific community outside Gibraltar in the 1980s but the Gibraltar
botanical section knew there were a few specimens left. Sadly, by 1992
all traces of the plant had vanished and it was declared extinct. In
1994 a single specimen was discovered by a climber on the inaccessible
cliffs and the species came back to life. It was propagated at the
millennium seed bank and specimens are grown at The Almeda Gibraltar
Botanic Gardens as well as the Royal Botanic Gardens in London.
7
Franklin Tree
Franklinia alatamaha
This tree is a part of the tea family but is the sole species in its
genus and a very rare flowering plant. The tree is native to the
Altamaha river valley in Georgia, but has been extinct in the wild since
the early 19th century. In fact this beautiful tree is only known today
because of the Bartram family, who were avid horticulturists and
propagated the tree before its extinction in the wild. The plant, which
has fragrant white blooms and leaves that turn into a bright red color
in fall, is now a popular ornamental plant. All the examples of this
tree today stem from one of the trees propagated by the Bartram’s.
6
Parrot’s Beak
Lotus berthelotii
This is a beautiful flower that has been classed as exceedingly rare
since 1884. It is believed to be completely extinct in the wild, but a
few individuals might have survived. This stunning plant is endemic to
the Canary Islands and is believed to have originally been pollinated by
sunbirds, which have long since become extinct in the Canary Islands.
This could help to explain the scarcity of the plant. Experiments have
been undertaken to find new pollinators for the flowers, in hopes that
they can successfully be reintroduced to the Islands, but as of 2008, no
fruit had been successfully produced. The Parrot’s beak is however
cultivated in the horticulture trade, which can allow even you to own
one!
5
Chocolate Cosmos
Cosmos atrosanguineus
This is a dark red to brown species of Cosmos, native to Mexico.
Sadly it has been extinct in the wild for over a hundred years. The
species survives today as a single non fertile clone, which was created
in 1902 by vegetative propagation. The flowers which are produced by the
plant are a rich deep red to brown color and grow to about 3-4 cm in
diameter. The flowers have a lovely vanillin fragrance in the summer
(also found in vanilla beans, some coffee beans and some cacao beans),
which also makes it a wonderful ornamental plant.
This is an extremely rare tree, endemic to Hawaii. It was discovered
in 1860, at which time only three specimens could be found. The tree
proved difficult to propagate, and by 1950, after the last seedling
died, it was deemed extinct. In 1970 a sole survivor was found, which
was sadly destroyed in a fire in 1978. Luckily one of the branches of
that last remaining tree was saved, and grafted into 23 trees that exist
today, all of which are situated in various places in Hawaii. The Kokai
is a small tree that grows to about 10-11 meters high. Their most
striking feature has to be the hundreds of bright red flowers that
mature trees produce annually. Sadly that is a rarity which few will be
privileged to see.
3
Yellow and Purple Lady Slippers
Cypripedium calceolus
This is an extremely rare type of wild orchid found across Europe.
Britain’s only example of this plant, which used to be more common and
widespread, can be found on a golf course and has been under strict
police protection since 1917. A single cutting can be sold for US$5000,
which is shocking as the plant is very difficult to propagate. Its seeds
bear no nourishment for the growing plant, so it lives in a symbiotic
relationship with a specific type of fungus, which provides it with
nourishment, until the adult leaves can produce enough nourishment for
the plant, at which time the fungus will also live off it. There are
many types of Lady slipper orchids, many of which are rare. This
specific type, has dark purple to almost red brown tendrils with a
bright yellow “slipper or moccasin.”
2
Ghost Orchid
Epipogium aphyllum
The Ghost orchid is a fascinating rare plant that was presumed
extinct for almost 20 years, only recently did it rear its head again.
The plant is so rare because it is basically impossible to propagate. It
has no leaves, does not depend on photosynthesis and does not
manufacture its own food. Like the Lady slipper, it needs a specific
fungus in close contact with its root system, which feeds it. The Ghost
orchid never grows leaves, and will therefore always depend on the
fungus for its nourishment. The Ghost orchid can live underground for
years, without showing any external signs and will only bloom when all
conditions are optimum. This explains why some orchid enthusiasts search
for years and years just to have a glimpse of this elusive flower.
1
Middlemist Red
Middlemist camellia
This is probably the rarest flowering plant in the world as there are
only 2 known examples. One can be found in a garden in New Zealand and
the other is situated in a greenhouse in Britain. The plant was
originally brought to Britain from China by John Middlemist (after whom
the plant was named) in 1804. It has since been completely wiped out in
China. The plant in Britain remained barren for years and only started
bearing flowers recently. The flowers are, contrary to its name, bright
pink in color and look almost rose like. It is believed to be highly
possible that more examples of this species has survived in people’s
gardens, unbeknown to them, as it was once sold directly to the public
by John Middlemist.
source : listverse
