Guide to Extinct Flowers

Flowers are often symbols of beauty, resilience, and biodiversity. Unfortunately, many have been lost to extinction due to habitat destruction, climate change, overharvesting, and invasive species. This florist guide explores some notable extinct flowers and their stories.

1. Franklin Tree (Franklinia alatamaha)

• Family: Theaceae

• Native Region: Southeastern United States, Georgia

• History & Description:
  Discovered in the 18th century along the Altamaha River, Franklinia alatamaha is known for its fragrant white flowers with golden centers and glossy green leaves that turn red in autumn.

• Reason for Extinction: Likely due to habitat destruction and inability to reproduce in the wild. All existing specimens come from cultivation by early botanists like John and William Bartram.

• Legacy: Still grown in gardens worldwide, it serves as a living reminder of the fragility of native flora.

2. Saint Helena Gumwood (Commidendrum rotundifolium)

• Family: Asteraceae

• Native Region: Saint Helena Island, South Atlantic Ocean

• History & Description:
  This small tree had white daisy-like flowers and was part of a unique ecosystem on Saint Helena.

• Reason for Extinction: Overgrazing by introduced animals, habitat destruction, and competition from invasive plants led to its disappearance in the wild by the 20th century.

• Legacy: Conservation programs aim to restore its relatives to the island.

3. Chile Sandalwood Flower (Santalum fernandezianum)

• Family: Santalaceae

• Native Region: Juan Fernández Islands, Chile

• History & Description:
  This flower grew on a sandalwood tree species known for aromatic wood. It produced small, delicate flowers adapted to island conditions.

• Reason for Extinction: Overexploitation for its fragrant wood and deforestation caused its disappearance in the wild.

• Legacy: Its extinction highlights the vulnerability of island ecosystems.

4. The Short-Flowered Moth Orchid (Angraecum pyriforme)

• Family: Orchidaceae

• Native Region: Madagascar

• History & Description:
  This orchid had small, white, moth-pollinated flowers and thrived in Madagascar’s unique habitats.

• Reason for Extinction: Deforestation and illegal collection for the ornamental plant trade led to its extinction.

• Legacy: Serves as a cautionary example of how orchids are highly sensitive to environmental changes.

5. Chilean Bellflower (Nolana paradoxa) [Speculative]

• Family: Solanaceae

• Native Region: Coastal Chile

• History & Description:
  Known for small, star-shaped, tubular flowers adapted to arid coastal soils.

• Reason for Extinction: Likely habitat loss due to urbanization and agriculture.

Causes of Flower Extinction

1. Habitat Destruction: Urbanization, agriculture, and deforestation remove the environments flowers rely on.

2. Climate Change: Shifts in temperature, rainfall, and seasonal patterns disrupt flowering and reproduction.

3. Invasive Species: Non-native plants, animals, and pathogens can outcompete or destroy native flowers.

4. Overharvesting: Many rare flowers have been collected for gardens, medicine, or trade.

5. Pollinator Loss: Many plants depend on specific insects or birds, and the decline of these pollinators can lead to extinction.

Conservation Lessons

• Ex-situ conservation (gardens, seed banks) can prevent total loss.

• Protecting native habitats and reintroducing cultivated plants to the wild can restore ecosystems.

• Raising awareness about rare flowers and sustainable horticulture is key to preventing future extinctions.