Drone discovers a Hawaiian plant that we thought was extinct

Image: Ken Wood, National Tropical Botanical Garden

Hey, Hibiscadelphus woodii. How you been?

The plant, also known as "Wood & # 39; s hau kuahiwi" and that we thought was extinct, is apparently still present and perhaps even thriving in its native Hawaii. Researchers at the National Tropical Botanical Garden of Kauai Island made this discovery with the help of a drone.

Three of the plants were spotted in images captured by a drone sent to explore the Kalalau Valley. The remote region of Kauai is known for its biodiversity, thanks to cliffs that make it inaccessible to humans and goats that pose a threat to the local flora.

You can see the images of the NTBG drone below and see the factory (clearly indicated) about half way.

the H. woodii the plant – a parent of hibiscus – was discovered in 1991 by NTBG botanists and classified as a new species in 1995. But this has not been seen since 2009, which led scientists to the classify as extinct.

The NTBG describes H. woodii like "a shrub or a small tree and produces bright yellow flowers that turn to purplish brown with age." Researchers' efforts to help plant propagation – including "grafting, cuttings and cross-pollination attempts" – have all failed.

Using a drone, NTBG researchers were able to study the inaccessible location of the cliff in the Kalalau Valley. This type of technology is particularly useful for conducting research as discreetly as possible in areas free of human.

"The drones open up a trove of unexplored cliff habitat, and while it may be the first such discovery, I'm sure it will not be the last," said Ben Nyberg of NTBG, in a statement.