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Island plantsConserving botanical diversityKew is actively involved in projects to conserve threatened island plants – both species from remote oceanic islands and those isolated within continents by their geographical setting. Horticulturists, botanists and other plant conservationists are responding to the plight of such habitats and developing techniques to rescue the most threatened species before they vanish completely. For example, only one wild café marron tree survives on its home island of Rodrigues. Kew’s horticulturists recently made a major breakthrough when they managed to pollinate its flowers so that it produced seed. Easter Island’s toromiro tree is extinct in the wild and there are just a few trees in botanic gardens around the world. Kew’s conservation geneticists are advising on breeding programmes to protect the species’ remaining genetic diversity. Australia’s Wollemi pine is a recently discovered species but has survived since the time of the dinosaurs. Only 100 have ever been found, growing in an isolated canyon. Commercially propagated Wollemi pines will be sold to raise funds to conserve the wild trees. Find out morePlant profiles
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