Rare Plants Canada Face Dangerous Threats

Rare Plants Canada Face Dangerous

Whether it’s the bright fuchsia-pink flowers of a fairy slipper orchid or the distinctive crooked-stem aster that’s found only on Ontario’s sand dunes and beaches, there are many plants in Canada with a unique look. But some of these rare species are facing threats that could jeopardize their continued existence, such as habitat loss and illegal trade of ginseng roots for their medicinal properties.

Canada has an extremely diverse flora, from the warm temperate broadleaf forests of southern Ontario to the arctic plains of northern Canada and everything in between. But due to industrial activities, unsustainable agricultural practices and urbanization, some of these natural habitats are at risk, with some plant species experiencing significant population declines.

The cucumber magnolia tree (Magnolia acuminata) is one such example, with only three of the species known to be left in the world. Its twisted, stunted growth and elongated cucumber-like fruit make it hard to miss, but the tree is at serious risk of extinction due to habitat destruction and the excessive harvesting of its root for ginseng.

Other examples of plants with a distinctive northern appearance include the amethyst- and lilac-hued blooms of the Arctic false wildflower, which grows only in the rocks and tundra of the Canadian north; the Barrens Willow, an endangered plant that only grows on the limestone barrens of Newfoundland; and the limber pine, another long-living species that showcases a distinct, twisted form in western Canada.

Rare Plants Canada Face Dangerous Threats

Although there are thousands of plant species that occur in Canada, more than half are classified as at risk or threatened and some may be at the point of extirpation or extinction. In an effort to protect and restore the flora of this diverse country, government agencies such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada have invested hundreds of millions of dollars through programs such as the North American Conservation Partnership and Habitat Stewardship Program, which provide funding to help private landowners conserve and manage their properties for species at risk.

However, while these programs are essential to helping at-risk species, they haven’t been focused on the needs of plants in particular. In fact, a recent study found that of 2121 HSP projects funded since 2006, only 153 explicitly targeted plants or their habitats (Table S2). That’s why researchers such as McCune are taking the lead in looking at the needs of rare plants canada and finding ways to improve their protection. After all, the extinction of these plants would greatly diminish the richness of Canada’s ecosystems.