Plant believed extinct for 60 years suddenly reappears
Key takeaways
- A plant believed to have vanished decades ago has been rediscovered in remote northern Australia, thanks to a chance observation uploaded to the citizen science platform i Naturalist.
- The discovery began when Aaron Bean, a professional horticulturalist who was helping band birds on a large outback property in Queensland, noticed an unusual plant growing in the landscape.
- That simple upload set off an extraordinary chain of events.
Why this matters: new research or scientific developments with potential real-world impact.
A plant believed to have vanished decades ago has been rediscovered in remote northern Australia, thanks to a chance observation uploaded to the citizen science platform i Naturalist. Scientists say the remarkable find highlights how everyday people are becoming increasingly important to modern biodiversity research and conservation.
The discovery began when Aaron Bean, a professional horticulturalist who was helping band birds on a large outback property in Queensland, noticed an unusual plant growing in the landscape. He photographed it and later uploaded the images to iNaturalist after regaining phone service.
That simple upload set off an extraordinary chain of events.