In the United States, there are 601 plants on the endangered species list. Hawaii alone has over 274 listings for plants in a threatened or endangered state.
The Endangered Species Act was passed by Congress in 1973 to conserve fish, wildlife and plants facing extinction. These species were considered to be of ecological, educational and aesthetic value.
Conservation experts hope to recover endangered plant species by restoring them to ecological health. This could mean relocating the species, aiding the reproductive cycle or implementing new laws for protection.
This endangered plant is found in the lowlands of Portugal, Britain and other Eastern European countries. The Marsupella profunda is a fertile plant that might make its way off the endangered species list.
Spruceanthus theobromae is the only Spruceanthus found in the New World. This Ecuadorian plant was last spotted in 1947 and may actually be extinct.
The Ochyraea tatrensis is a type of moss that is threatened by pollution. This endangered plant can only be found in two remote localities in Nizké Tatry National Park in Central Slovakia.