Last Wild Dendroseris neriifolia Tree Seeks Rescue via Seed Collection

The only remaining wild individual of the endangered Dendroseris neriifolia now clings to a steep cliff on a remote island, making it one of the planet’s most isolated trees. Conservationists have undertaken a daring operation to harvest seeds from the lone specimen, a task that required climbing to extreme heights. The collected seeds are being sent to the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew Gardens, where scientists are beginning trials to grow the species from seed. Successful cultivation could provide the genetic material needed to restore populations in the wild and safeguard the species from total extinction.