April 1998: Issue 13

Tecophilaea cyanocrocus.

The Friends of Kew selected work on ten threatened plants for their Annual Appeal. The plants chosen for the Appeal come from a wide range of different areas, and include the Chilean blue crocus (Tecophilaea cyanocrocus) which is extinct in the wild, the jellyfish tree (Medusagyne oppositifolia) from the Seychelles, where less than 50 plants remain, and the cactus Cipocereus laniflorus from Brazil, a recently discovered species only known from a single population. The funds raised will be used to support studies on different aspects of the selected species. The first benefit will be the appointment of Robyn Cowan for six months. She will carry out genetic fingerprinting (AFLPs) and phylogenetic studies (using DNA sequences) to assess the level of genetic variation remaining and to clarify the relationships of the species. These studies will act as a foundation for future work aimed at securing their long-term future.

Contact: Dr Mike Fay (0181-332 5374)

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