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Extinct Tree Makes a Comeback in Global Botanic Garden Collaboration Project

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Extinct Tree Makes a Comeback in Global Botanic Garden Collaboration Project MEDIA RELEASE 21 January 2019 EXTINCT TREE MAKES A COMEBACK IN GLOBAL BOTANIC GARDEN COLLABORATION PROJECT The extinct Toromiro tree has been given a new lease on life, after Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Australia and Montreal Botanical Garden, Canada worked together in a global collaboration that could help to restore the species. Sophora toromiro, commonly known as Toromiro, became extinct on the island of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) after it was completely eradicated in the 1960s as a result of extensive deforestation. It is now listed as Extinct in the Wild on the IUCN Red List and persists only through the work of botanic gardens across the world. In 2017, seeds stored in the Conservation Seedbank at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria for over 15 years, were sent to Montreal Botanical Garden. Horticulturalists in Montreal have now successfully grown six young trees from these seeds. “Montreal Botanical Garden approached us because we hold perhaps the greatest genetic diversity of Toromiro on Earth today” says Professor Tim Entwisle, Director and Chief Executive at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. “In 1994, plants in Melbourne Gardens were discovered to have a previously unrecorded genetic lineage. A vitally important resource for the future conservation of this species.” “This is yet another example of a Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria program helping to conserve plants in light of the many threats facing them. Indeed, we recently hosted representatives of botanic gardens from five continents to build an alliance to help combat the threats today.” MEDIA RELEASE 21 January 2019 As with the collections on display at Melbourne Gardens, Montreal Botanical Garden will use these specimens as part of a wider education program to teach visitors about plant conservation. This example of cross-continental teamwork between botanic gardens demonstrates the vital importance of ex-situ conservation and partnerships in the survival of endangered and extinct plant species. “This contribution of Sophora toromiro seeds from Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is greatly appreciated, as it will serve as important education material, helping to inform our visitors on the vital conservation role that all botanic gardens play.” says Stéphane Bailleul, Botanist in Montreal Botanical Garden’s Research and Scientific Development Division. Seedbanks are an important resource in botanical collections worldwide. The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Conservation Seedbank has contributed to the conservation efforts of many Australian native plants in the Victorian region. The Victorian Rare and Threatened Species Collection in Melbourne Gardens is made exclusively from the seedbank collection. END For more information please contact: Megan Harvey Communications and Media Officer Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria T: +61 3 9252 2738 M: +61 468 388 733 E: [email protected] Editor’s Notes Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is a world leading botanic garden and a centre of excellence for horticulture, science and education. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is dedicated to the conservation, display and enjoyment of plants and extends over two locations, Melbourne and Cranbourne, and incorporates the National Herbarium of Victoria. Seedbanking at the National Herbarium of Victoria Over 1.5 million botanic specimens are stored in the National Herbarium of Victoria. Some of these specimens have been found to date back to Captain Cook’s voyage. Scientists and researchers are continually bringing back herbarium specimens from field-trips worldwide, as well as seeds to be stored in the seedbank. MEDIA RELEASE 21 January 2019 The first Sophora toromiro seed ever collected was in 1774, by J. R. and G. Forster on Captain Cook’s voyage. Toromiro seeds from the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria collection date back to 1995. Processing seeds for storage is very important to ensure that they can remain alive and usable for centuries. Once left to dry and removing 95% of their moisture content, the seeds are then stored in a freezer -20°C to put them in a dormant state. Seeds are left in the freezer until they are needed for research or conservation purposes, and can remain in this state for centuries. Toromiro Management Plan Following the removal of the last Toromiro tree from Rapa Nui in 1960, multiple unsuccessful reintroductions of this species have been attempted, starting in 1965. Ongoing conservation management plans are in place for this species as part of a scientific project lead partly by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Gothenburg Botanical Garden. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria have previously collaborated with Kew due to its great range of Toromiro genetic material. It is because of contributions to ongoing education and propagation attempts - such as that by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria to Montreal Botanical Garden - that this species has continued to survive through plantings in botanic gardens, and is not completely extinct. Montreal Botanical Garden and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Montreal Botanical Garden contacted Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in 2017 in search of seeds of Sophora toromiro. Their horticulturalists had previously attempted to cultivate this species from seeds supplied from Chile, however these plants turned out to be a hybrid between Toromiro and another species of Sophora. In search of authentic Toromiro genetic material, they reached out to Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. 40 seeds – 20 from two different genetic lineages – were supplied in November 2017 from the seedbank at the National Herbarium of Victoria. Once they have grown to maturity within a few years they will be planted for display and education purposes at the Montreal Botanical Garden. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Gardens, currently have ten established Toromiro plants in their collection. The normal flowering period for this plant is October – November. .
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