Waterlily saved from extinction (Amazing story) [View All]

[onehandle]

A scientist based at the UK's Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has prevented the world's smallest waterlily from becoming extinct. Carlos Magdalena now plans to repopulate the plant in its native home in the hot springs of Rwanda.

The world's biggest species of waterlily can have pads that grow to around 3m (10ft). By contrast the thermal lily is just a centimetre wide - with tiny satin white flowers with a butter yellow centre.

Two years ago, this delicate bloom went extinct in the wild due to over-exploitation of its habitat. Luckily its seeds were kept in storage - and were used by Carlos Magdalena to regrow the plant at Kew Gardens - just outside London.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10124250.stm



UK-based botanist Carlos Magdalena holds a thermal lily—the world's smallest species—next to a Victoria waterlily—the world's largest.