Botanic breakthrough: Lost Magnolia appears in Haiti after 97 years

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After being lost and thus forgotten in the field of science, a magnolia tree native to Haiti reappeared for the first time in a Haitian forest and was discovered by a conservation team.

The moment of discovery 

The Magnolia emarginata is known for boasting pure white flowers and uniquely shaped leaves and was once abundant in the forest of Morne Colombo, now destroyed by deforestation. The endangered species’ reappearance has sparked new hope for the re-blossoming of Haiti’s wilderness, having been on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list of threatened species. 

The conservation team initially stumbled upon one tree on the third day of the expedition and captured the first ever photo of the plant itself. They soon discovered 16 flowering trees in various stages of development, alongside juvenile plants in the early phases of growth. 

The researchers concluded that more varieties of the species could be found in the area. DNA samples were later collected for analysis after the trees were identified and the team plans to return in late fall to collect seeds.

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Haiti National Trust: there is hope to save the plants

Due to the exponential investment in deforestation projects, leaving only 1% of the country’s original forest, native plants now only survive in inaccessible mountains or ravines. This persuaded a team from the Haiti National Trust to head for the Massif du Nord, Haiti’s longest mountain range, speculating that the magnolia could survive in elevated environments. 

The Haiti National Trust has successfully harvested four other native magnolia types across the island of Hispaniola, which includes the Dominican Republic. This discovery boosted hope for the team to help local communities contribute to restoration efforts and eventually start a nursery to cultivate the plants. 

Communications director for the Haiti National Trust and leader of the expedition, Eladio Fernández, exhibited the excitement this breakthrough has given the team, noting: “Despite the bleak state of the country’s degraded forests, it still harbors species like this that are found nowhere else in the world, giving us the opportunity to save them.”