US Botanic Garden Fights to Save Endangered Plants

After 160 million years as an integral part of the Beech and Magnolia forests in the southeastern US, the Stinking Cedar now faces extinction due to habitat destruction and a widespread fungal disease. (Atlanta Botanical Garden)

This rare Alluaudia montagnacii, like 80 percent of the 12,000 plant species in Madagascar, can only be found on the island nation. (US Botanic Garden)

The Hawaiian caper has traditionally been very useful as a medicinal plant. (National Tropical Botanical Garden)

The Tennessee coneflower exists naturally in locations around Nashville, Tennessee. (US Botanic Garden)

The Golden Barrel Cactus, rare in the wild, is among the most popular cacti in commercial cultivation. (US Botanic Garden)

Britton's beargrass, found only in the dry, scrub-covered ridges and sand hills of central Florida, is dependent upon periodic fires to reduce competition from other plants. (US Botanic Garden)

This rare cactus is endemic to the arid forests of eastern Brazil and lost its habitat as forested lands were converted into agricultural fields. (US Botanic Garden)

Native to Hawaii, and possibly extinct in the wild, Pritchardia affinis are threatened by rats that eat their fruit. (US Botanic Garden)

Habitat loss from development has hastened the decline of the Alabama Canebrake Pitcher plant. (Center for Plant Conservation)