They're baaaack.....

[Deleted]

The report had some good news for Queensland with two plant species thought to have been extinct rediscovered in the state's far north.

The first plant is Rhaphidospora cavernarum, a large herb 0.5 to 1.5m high which has a white flower with purplish markings in the throat.

The second plant is a native mint named Teucrium ajugaceum which has trailing stems up to 20cm tall and white or mauve flowers with mauve markings.

Rhaphidospora cavernarum was presumed extinct as it had not been collected from Queensland since 1873.

A number of more recent collections from eastern Cape York were identified as this species by staff from the State Herbarium of South Australia and the species has now been reclassified as vulnerable.

Teucrium ajugaceum, which occurs in eucalypt woodland with a grassy understorey, was presumed extinct because the most recent collection was from Musgrave Telegraph Station on Cape York in 1891.

The species was not rediscovered until 2004 in the same vicinity and has also been reclassed as vulnerable.

"It's very exciting that both plants have been rediscovered more than a century after the last reported sighting," Mr McNamara said.

www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2008/04/12/1207856905741.html?s_rid=www:top5

[youcantry]

Beautiful, isn't it? It makes you wonder - like the Wollemi Pine, these are not migratory animals, and they're not tiny either. But what it comes down to is someone who knows the significance of the organism making the sighting.

What does this mean for carnivorous marsupials? I don't know. They move, they only come out after dark; who knows?

One more thing about the plant - I'm wondering whether some plant material can lie dormant for years before resprouting? I don't know - like a willow tree stick which always seems to grow when you plant it in the ground no matter how old it is.

Anyone have any idea for something like these two species described here? Could they have lain dormant somehow for decade? (More likely they just haven't been seen by anyone who knows better)

[Deleted]

We know plant material can regenerate after a very long time dormant, I saw an article years ago where some seeds from an Egyptian tomb were planted and grew after being stored for over 3,000 years. Obviously they didn't even irradiate them to get them to last, the dry sealed vessel prevented rot or mould. I guess simiar things could happen naturally but I think it more likely nobody saw the plants or if anyone did they didn't know what they had seen - a bit like our bush panthers.

[wally1]

Following the extended wetting the Cooper Basin country got in the early 70s, an aquaintance with an interest in flora found quite a few plants that were considered long lost. He also found some new plants.
He wrote a book on the subject and also birds of the Cooper Basin.
In a discussion I mentioned cattle sheep and camels eating castor oil plant.
He considered castor oil plant to be toxic to all things and told me to my face that I was a liar.
How to win and influence friends.
I have had no communication with him since.
Wally

[Deleted]

Only the seeds of the castor oil plant are seriously poisonous, if he knew anything about botany he should have known that and also that a number of species can eat plants that others find toxic. Goats get sick on broad beans or try giving a cat an asprin, one man's meat is another man's poison.