Extinct mountain jewel plant returned to wild in secret location

May 31, 2024 7:03 PM

Extinct mountain jewel plant returned to wild in secret location. (BBC) A plant picked for its beautiful flowers then wiped out in the UK mainland makes a return.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (7 comments total)

I have a few containers of ornamental saxifrage varieties growing in the container garden on my deck and they are such a welcome dose of color earlier in the spring. We have native varieties that grow on the hill my house is on, as well.

I wish them great success in re-establishing their native varieties - they really are lovely plants.
posted by Nerd of the North at 7:35 PM on May 31

Well, here's hoping. Pretty awesome.

Until some sheep/deer/rabbit is hungry...
posted by Windopaene at 8:52 PM on May 31 [1 favorite]

I love saxifrages. My favorite plant of all is the starry saxifrage but they’re all good flowers.
posted by Kattullus at 11:06 PM on May 31

tsk! common names. I think they're talking about Saxifraga rosacea subsp. rosacea which is doing better on the other island. Including within 10km of the United Kingdom the other side of Lough Melvin in Co Leitrim. Maps? Luv 'em.
posted by BobTheScientist at 11:18 PM on May 31

honest Q: from this usage, 'extinct' means within-a-certain-range. is that vernacular? I thought extinction was absolute.
posted by j_curiouser at 2:13 AM on June 2

Extirpated is maybe a more precise word though extinct in the wild is often shortened to just extinct lately.
posted by Mitheral at 9:07 AM on June 2 [1 favorite]

honest Q: from this usage, 'extinct' means within-a-certain-range. is that vernacular? I thought extinction was absolute

Something can be extinct in a particular location eg extinct on this one island where it used to live.

Something can also be extinct in the wild eg only found in zoos and captive breeding facilities.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 5:37 AM on June 3