The Pritchardiopsis jeanneneyi of Nancy Botanical Garden is blooming since last week!
This palm is the rarest one of New Caledonia, and one of the rarest in the World (Critically Endengered for the IUCN)
It was discovered in 1890, and consumption for hearts of palms by prisoners of a penitentiary have critically reduce the number of trees. At the end of XIX century, this species was recorded as extinct.
But in 1980, this palm was re-discovered near Nouméa ! Only 1 adult tree was subsisting...
Most of the young subjects were poached by palm-enthusiasts despite serious protection and less information about it!
So in 1982, a large ex situ conservation plan begun. This year, some seeds was sowed in Nancy Botanical Garden, and a few BG in France and from all the world.
At early 90's, only 2 subjects were subsisting in Europe: at Kew and at Nancy.
In New Caledonia, a tree germinated in 1998 bloom in 2004 and give 200 seeds. At the end of the maturation of these (16 months later !), only 5 subsist !
It was the first blooming in a garden in the world!
The second time is this year, in France: first time in Europe, second time in the world.
Now, we just know 3 adult palm for this species!
An artificial pollination was began to encourage fruits formation.
We hope that 2 years later we may share seeds (the most possible!) for all BGs of the world, in the hope to save this species of extinction.
Please, share this information!!
The entire palm, with the stipe
A flower close up
Nancy Botanical Garden