Plants of the Red Book. The rarest plants in the world Rare plant of our world

There are many plants on Earth, but the rarest flowers in the world deserve special attention. All of them are listed in the Red Book and are classified as endangered. Some grow in the wild, and individual specimens can only be observed in botanical gardens, where they are studied and special living conditions are created for them.

Campion (Lichnis Gibraltar) Silene Tomentosa

The habitat of this rare species is rocks. The most suitable climate for it is in the area. For a long time, scientists believed that these rare flowers had disappeared forever, until in the 90s of the 20th century they were rediscovered by a group of rock climbers. Today the plant is grown under special conditions.

You can get acquainted with the rarest specimens in London's Royal Botanic Garden, or in its homeland, Gibraltar, where it is also cultivated. Its seeds are carefully protected in a special jar.

Jade brush

This unique plant of the genus of woody vines is extremely rare to be found in the Philippine jungle. This is an incredible plant whose clusters grow up to three meters. changes from turquoise to mint.

Since trees are being actively cut down in the tropics, many rare flowers are on the verge of extinction. The thing is that pollination occurs due to bats, which are also uncomfortable in new natural conditions. At night, the flower glows, which attracts pollinators. It is not yet possible to grow the plant under artificial conditions.

Slipper of Venus (yellow-violet)

It is extremely rare that populations of these flowers can be found in different parts of Europe. The difficulty of cultivation lies in the fact that it is almost impossible to create artificial growing conditions. Seeds receive nutrition not from the parent plant, but from a specific microorganism, a fungus.

After some time, independent leaves appear and yellow “shoes” with purple tendrils bloom. Only wealthy people or those who are truly in love with a unique flower can purchase a shoot.

Ghost Orchid

The plant was considered extinct for a long time, but recently scientists discovered it again. This type of orchid has practically no leaves, and nutrition occurs through symbiosis with a fungal microorganism living on its roots. The plant itself can remain underground for about 3 years, continuing to exist, and only then reveals wonderful flowers to the world.

Giant corpse lily Titan Arum from Sumatra

The flower, incredible in beauty and size, grows up to 2 meters.

Sometimes you have to climb a ladder to see it. The rarest flowers of this plant appear once every 25-40 years. A peculiarity of the plant is its unpleasant odor, which manifests itself exclusively during flowering. Pollinators are beetles and flies that are attracted to the smell of spoiled (decomposing) meat. The flower receives its nutrition from a rare vine.

Camellia red

The rarest flowers in the world are the group to which this plant belongs, existing in two copies in the botanical gardens of London and New Zealand. China is considered the homeland. The flowers are very similar to roses. There is an assumption that the plant can grow in private gardens.

Cadupullus

The peculiarity is that flowering occurs extremely rarely. Not everyone who has been to Sri Lanka (the homeland of cadupullus) has the fortunate opportunity to admire it, because the flower blooms only at midnight and quickly dies.

Buddhists have a belief that cadupullus is a gift to Buddha from mythical creatures.

Parrot's Beak (Lotus Bertelotii)

Studying photos of the rarest flowers, you involuntarily pay attention to a bright flower in the shape of a bird’s beak. The plant is native to the Canary Islands, but you can no longer find it in the wild. The flower is cultivated on private farms; it can also be purchased as a house plant.

Kokai Cookei, or Kokyo flower

Beautiful and rare flowers of the world require special care and attention. Scientists have made great efforts to preserve the tree with its unique flowers. Its seedlings did not take root, and after the fire only one branch survived, which was grafted onto other trees.

The best conditions for growing coquio have been created in Hawaii, where you can still admire the unique plant. Trees often exceed 10 meters in height.

Predator Drosera Capensis (Cape Sundew)

Droplets of liquid serve both as glue, to which the insect firmly sticks, and as a digestive enzyme.

Cape sundew can also grow at home, but it requires an increased amount of moisture, some light and a certain temperature, not higher than 12°C. Create such conditions, and a real “exterminator” of mosquitoes, midges, and ants will appear on your windowsill.

Franklin flower

At a certain period, the plant produces a flower that resembles only one painted white. The trees were first discovered in Georgia, in the valley where the Alatamakha River flows. It is believed that the plant survived thanks to avid gardeners who persistently cultivated and propagated it for many years.

Chocolate space

The group of rare flowers also includes this species, which was grown artificially. This flower is not found in the wild. It grows from seeds, which are very expensive.

The plant will become a real decoration for your home or office, as it emits an amazing chocolate-vanilla aroma. The flowers are painted in different shades - from burgundy and red to brown.

Yutan Poluo

Not all rare flowers require the creation of certain conditions. Some are quite unpretentious, but they can be found in the most unexpected places. For example, the Yutan Poluo plant was first found inside a steel pipe during cleaning.

At the same time, the flower can be seen on those covered with gold. The plant feels comfortable here too.

Nepenthes, or Pitcher Flower

A capricious plant that belongs to the genus of shrub and semi-shrub vines. It grows in areas from Sumatra to Borneo. Many subspecies are included in the Red Book, since the plant is demanding of environmental conditions.

The flower is a predator that feeds on insects. It is interesting that many species simultaneously develop 2 types of “pitchers”: the upper one catches flying midges, the lower one feeds on crawling bugs. Inside the containers are filled with liquid in which insects drown and digest.

Sunflower Schweinitzii

A rare plant that is found in limited quantities in the United States. After a thorough study, about 85 populations were recorded, each containing no more than 45 units.

Russia's wide areas of natural vegetation and soils are closely related to the country's climatic zones. In the far north, where summers are cold and soils are poor in nutrients, mosses, lichens and low-growing shrubs predominate. The soil freezes to a great depth and only the surface layer thaws in the summer allowing plants to grow. Forests occupy about 45 percent of Russia's territory, most of it in Siberia. The total area of ​​all forests is about 25 percent of . The forest zone of Russia can be divided into a large northern part - coniferous, or Taiga, and a much smaller southern region - coniferous-deciduous forests.

boreal forests

The taiga is located south of the tundra and occupies 40 percent of the European part of the country, and also covers large areas of Siberia and the Russian Far East. Most of this region is dominated by. Although the taiga zone is predominantly composed of conifers, in some areas small-leaved trees such as birch, poplar, aspen and willow add diversity. In the extreme north-west of European Russia, the taiga is dominated by pine, although fir, birch and other trees are often found.

To the east, to the Western slope of the Urals, pine still grows, but fir already predominates, and in some areas there are almost pure birch forests. The West Siberian Plain consists mainly of various species of pine, while birch dominates along the southern edge of the forest. Throughout most of the Central Siberian plateau and mountains of the Far Eastern region, the main forest-forming species is larch. Trees in the taiga zone are usually small and widely scattered. In some areas, where soils are poor in nutrients, there are no trees at all, and only marsh grasses and bushes form the vegetation cover.

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Mixed forests

The zone of mixed forests in the central part of the East European Plain from St. Petersburg in the north to the border with Ukraine in the south, is characterized by the presence of both coniferous and broad-leaved trees. Evergreen coniferous trees predominate in the north, while deciduous trees are common in the south. Major broadleaf species include oak, beech, maple and hornbeam.

Similar forest cover prevails in the southern part of the Russian Far East, along the middle Amur River valley and south along the Ussuri River valley. The basis of the soil cover of the mixed forest zone is made up of gray-brown forest soils. They are not as barren as the soils of the Taiga, and with proper agricultural cultivation, they can be very productive. In the south, a narrow zone of forest-steppe separates the mixed forest from the steppes.

Forest-steppe and steppe

Although currently a significant area of ​​the forest-steppe is plowed, it has natural meadow vegetation with scattered groves of trees. On average about 150 km wide, this zone extends east through the valleys of the middle Volga and Southern Urals in the southern parts of the West Siberian Plain. Individual areas of forest-steppe are also found in the southern intermountain basins of Eastern Siberia. A mixture of grasses with a few trees interspersed in sheltered valleys is the natural vegetation of the Russian steppe - a large area that includes the western half of the North Caucasus Plain and a belt of land extending east through the southern Volga valley, the southern Urals and western regions of Siberia. As in the case of the forest-steppe zone, almost all of the country’s steppes are cultivated.

List of plants of Russia

Below is a list of some trees, shrubs, herbs with descriptions and photos that characterize the flora of Russia.

Fluffy birch

Downy birch is a species of deciduous tree found throughout northern Europe and northern Asia, growing further north than any other broad-leaved tree on the planet. Often confused with a related species, silver birch, but downy birch prefers wetter areas and grows well in heavy and poorly drained soils; young trees are also easily confused with dwarf birch.

Common hornbeam

The common hornbeam, also known as the European or Caucasian hornbeam, is a species of deciduous tree native to Western and Central Asia and Eastern and Southern Europe. It prefers warm climates and is found only at altitudes up to 600 meters above sea level. It grows in mixed forests together with oak, and in some areas with beech.

English oak

A tree from the beech family that is widespread in the European part of Russia. It is the dominant tree species in the southern regions of the forest and forest-steppe zones. It is a large deciduous tree, reaching 40 meters in height and 4-12 meters in trunk circumference.

Siberian spruce

Siberian spruce is a coniferous tree, a species of spruce native to Siberia, growing from the Ural Mountains east to the Magadan region, as well as from the Arctic forest line to the Altai Mountains in northwestern Mongolia.

White willow

White willow is a species of willow found in Europe, Western and Central Asia. The name comes from the white tint on the undersides of the leaves. These are medium to large deciduous trees, growing up to 10-30 meters in height, with a trunk diameter of about 1 meter. The bark is grey-brown, deeply fissured on old trees.

Field maple

Native to much of Europe, the British Isles, South-West Asia (from Turkey to the Caucasus) and North Africa (in the Atlas Mountains), a species of tree from the Sapindaceae family. They are also successfully cultivated outside their natural range in the United States and Western Australia in areas with a suitable climate. In Russia, it is most common in the middle zone of the European part of the country.

This is a deciduous tree, reaching 15-25 meters in height, with a trunk up to 1 meter in diameter and finely fissured, thin bark.

Siberian larch

Siberian larch is a frost-resistant conifer growing in western Russia, from the Finnish border east to the Yenisei valley in central Siberia, where it hybridizes with Gmelin larch; the hybrid is known as Chekanovsky Larch.

Siberian larch reaches 20-50 meters in height, with a trunk up to 1 meter in diameter. The crown is conical in young trees, and acquires an oval-round shape as it grows.

Common juniper

Common juniper is a conifer species with the largest geographic range of any woody plant, with a circumpolar distribution throughout the subarctic belt, from the Arctic south to 30°N latitude in North America, Europe and Asia. Relict populations can be found in the Atlas Mountains of Africa. On the territory of Russia, it is found in forests and forest-steppe of the European part of the country, as well as in the western and, less often, eastern regions of Siberia.

Common juniper is a small evergreen tree or shrub of very variable shape and up to 16 meters in height.

Gray alder

Gray alder is a species of the alder genus with a wide range in cold regions of the northern hemisphere.

The size of the trees varies from small to medium, with a maximum height of about 15-20 meters, smooth gray bark (even in older specimens), and a lifespan of no more than 60-100 years.

Aspen

Aspen is a species of deciduous tree common in temperate and cool regions of Europe and Asia, from Iceland and the British Isles east to Kamchatka, north into the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia and Russia, southern and central Spain, Turkey, Tien Shan, North Korea and Northern Japan.

It is a tall deciduous tree, growing up to 40 meters in height, with a trunk diameter of more than 1 meter. The bark is pale greenish-gray, smooth on young trees with dark gray diamond-shaped lenticels, becoming dark gray and fissured on older ones.

Siberian cedar pine

Siberian pine pine is a species of pine that grows in Siberia from 58° east longitude in the Urals to 126° east longitude in the south of the Sakha Republic, as well as from 68° north latitude in the lower Yenisei valley south to 45° north latitude in central Mongolia.

In the north of its range, it grows at low altitudes, usually 100-200 meters, while closer to the south, it is found at an altitude of 1000-2400 meters above sea level. Siberian pine pine is a slow-growing tree, with a maximum height of 30-40 meters, and a trunk diameter of about 1.5 meters. Life expectancy is 800-850 years.

Siberian fir

Siberian fir is a coniferous evergreen tree growing in the taiga east of the Volga River and south of 67° 40" north latitude in Siberia, through Turkestan, northeastern Xinjiang, Mongolia and Heilongjiang.

Prefers cold climates, moist soils in mountains or river basins at altitudes of 1900-2400 meters above sea level. Siberian fir is a very shade-tolerant, frost-resistant tree that grows at temperatures down to -50° C. It rarely lives more than 200 years due to its susceptibility to wood fungus.

Mountain ash

Common rowan is a tree or shrub plant from the rose family. The range extends from Madeira and Iceland to Russia and Northern China.

Rowan occurs as a tree or shrub that reaches 5 to 15 meters in height. The crown is round or irregular in shape, and the trunk is thin and cylindrical up to 40 cm in diameter.

Common barberry

This deciduous shrub can reach up to 4 meters in height. The leaves are small, oval, 2-5 cm long and 1-2 cm wide, with a serrated edge; they grow in bunches of 2 to 5 leaves. The flowers are yellow, 4-6 mm in diameter, bloom on a long raceme in late spring. Oblong red berries 7-10 mm long and 3-5 mm wide ripen in late summer or autumn; They are edible, but very acidic and rich in vitamin C.

Marsh rosemary

A low shrub about 50 cm (rarely up to 120 cm) tall with evergreen leaves 12-50 mm long and 2-12 mm wide. The flowers are small, with a five-lobed white corolla, and emit a strong scent to attract bees and other pollinating insects. It has a wide geographical range in Russia, which covers the tundra, forest zone, Siberia and the Far East.

Common lilac

Common lilac is a flowering shrub plant from the Olive family, native to the Balkan Peninsula, where it grows wild on rocky hills. The species is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant and has been naturalized in other regions of Europe (including Russia, Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy), as well as much of North America.

It is a large deciduous shrub or small multi-stemmed tree, growing up to 6-7 meters, producing secondary shoots from the base or root system, which over decades can grow into a small colonial thicket. The bark is gray or grey-brown, smooth on young stems, and longitudinally furrowed on older stems. The leaves are simple, 4-12 cm long and 3-8 cm wide, light green to glaucous in color, oval to heart-shaped, with pinnate venation and a pointed top. The flowers typically range from lilac to mauve, sometimes white. The fruit is a dry, smooth, brown capsule, 1-2 cm long, split into two parts to release the seeds.

Viburnum common

Viburnum viburnum is a deciduous shrub plant, reaching 4-5 meters in height. Leaves are opposite, three-lobed, 5-10 cm long and wide, with a rounded base and coarsely serrated edges; They are similar in appearance to the leaves of some types of maple, but differ in their slightly wrinkled surface. It blooms in early summer and is pollinated by insects. The spherical bright red fruits (7-10 mm in diameter) contain one seed. Seeds are dispersed by birds and other animals.

Polar poppy

One of the most northern plants in the world. The stem is tough, hardy and covered with black hairs, the flowers have delicate yellow or white petals. Flowers constantly turn towards the sun, repeating its movement across the sky, and attracting insects. Arctic poppy grows in meadows, mountains and dry riverbeds. They thrive among rocks, which absorb the sun's heat and provide shelter for the root system.

Stinging nettle

Nettle is an easily recognizable, unfortunately, often easily felt plant, the stems and leaves of which are covered with stinging hairs. This is an effective way to avoid the fate of being eaten, and also makes nettles an important refuge for caterpillars and many other insects. In addition to stinging nettle, stinging nettle is widespread in Russia.

Violet tricolor

Violet tricolor, also known as pansy, is an annual or sometimes perennial plant native to Europe and temperate Asia. It was also introduced into North America, where it spread widely. It is the progenitor of the cultivated violet and is therefore sometimes called the wild violet.

Checkered hazel grouse

Checkerboard hazel grouse is a perennial herbaceous plant that has a rather unusual appearance for wildflowers. Prefers damp, low-lying meadows and pastures of Europe and Western Asia. Thrives in soils that have never been subjected to intensive agriculture and is becoming increasingly rare.

Sedge

Sedge is a genus of perennial herbaceous plants, numbering about 2 thousand species. There are between 300 and 400 species found in Russia, which grow in a variety of climates, landscapes and habitats throughout the country.

Rare plants and animals of Russia are endangered species that have been listed in the Red Book. Actions aimed at preserving the country's natural resources cannot be delayed, in which the creation of nature reserves plays an important role. In this article we will look at some of the rarest plant species in Russia.

Reasons for disappearance

The main reason for the disappearance of plants is human economic activity: grazing of livestock, frequent plowing of land, construction of industrial enterprises and cities, railways and highways, airfields, gas and oil pipelines, power lines, drainage of swamps. All this leads to the alienation of territories that are occupied by flora and fauna. As a result, some species of plants and animals are disappearing.

Preservation of rare plants

The main role in preserving our plant wealth is given to arboretums and botanical gardens, of which there are 120 in Russia. We have formed a network of nature reserves, covering the main types of landscapes. Sanctuaries were also created, the purpose of which is to protect certain rare plants of Russia.

But some of them are present in nature in such small quantities that neither botanical gardens nor nature reserves can ensure their preservation. Consequently, other forms of saving their gene pool are being developed.

Species that are listed in the Red Book are subject to protection throughout the country. Actions that could lead to a reduction in numbers, death, or disruption of the habitat of endangered and rare plants are prohibited.

Rhodiola rosea

Considering the rare plants of Russia, photos of which are presented in this article, you can immediately mention (it is also known under the names “pink root”, “golden root”). It is included in the Red Book of our country.

The plant received the name “golden root” because of its rhizome, which has the color of old gilding or bronze with a soft mother-of-pearl tint.

Anemonastrum permian

This plant species is included in the Red Book of the Urals. Its name is translated from Greek as “wind”. It is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. Its stems and leaves are covered with horizontally protruding, thick, slightly downwardly inclined hairs. In outline, the root leaves are rounded and kidney-shaped, dissected into 3 rhombic segments, while the lateral ones are almost completely bipartite. But the leaves of the spathe are mostly separate - up to 2/3, sometimes whole. On average there are 2-6 flower stalks. At the very beginning of flowering, they are equal in length to the leaves of the spathe, then several times longer than them. Strongly elongated when fruiting, covered with thin, sparse, slightly curly hairs. The plant has flowers 2-3 cm in diameter, the perianth has white, elliptical leaves. The fruits are about 7 mm long.

Violet, cut

It should be noted that this is one of the most delicate and beautiful flowers. It can be found in meadows, edges of coniferous forests, river banks, rocky slopes. The main charm of the flower is its purple corollas. This species reproduces with the help of seeds, and they are not produced every year, therefore, the fragrant violet was also included in the list of “Rare Plants of Russia”.

Yellow water lily

It got its name from its closest relative - the white water lily. It grows in shallow water, with its leaves located both under and above the water. officially received the name “little egg” for its interesting fruit. It blooms all summer with yellow, large, almost spherical flowers. They are used for bouquets (even though they are not placed in a vase), as well as for medicinal purposes (even official medicine recognizes the properties of the plant).

Bell dolomite

This is a flower that grows only in our country, in Ingushetia, North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Dagestan, and the Chechen Republic. It has white, very beautiful flowers located on thin long stalks. It is plucked for its decorative appearance; in addition, its numbers drop very sharply due to construction work and road construction in the places where it grows.

Lily saranka

Speaking about the rarest plants in Russia, one cannot fail to mention this species. Saranka lily (badun, curly, royal curls, oil lily) - cute snow-white, pink or lilac flowers with small dark dots with curved petals that bloom in mid-summer. The Siberian forest-steppes and steppes are considered the homeland of this lily. There is a legend that it gives vigor, fortitude, stamina and courage to warriors. The flower is very beautiful in bouquets, and its tubers are edible. But, in addition to beauty, it also has medicinal properties, which further contributed to its destruction.

Spotted palmate root

It belongs to the Orchidaceae family. Found in the European part of the country. In early summer, purple flowers appear on racemose inflorescences, surrounded by spotted leaves. In addition to being decorative, these rare Russian plants, or rather their tubers, have healing properties. The powder made from them has an enveloping, anti-inflammatory, emollient and restorative effect.

Rare and endangered plants of Russia: yellow iris

(swamp, false calamus, water) grows in the European part of the country, along the banks of rivers and lakes, in meadows near swamps. On a branched stem they are placed in bunches with an orange center. Essential oil is made from the plant, which is then used in perfumery, and the rhizomes, which have a delicate violet aroma, are used in the production of liqueurs, wines, and in the confectionery industry.

Peony thin-leaved

This flower was very common in the sixties of the last century throughout the USSR. Today its population has declined sharply. It is extremely popular and very expensive in Western Europe, Canada and the USA. It begins to bloom in mid-May, unforgettably and brightly. An adult bush can simultaneously bear several dozen flowers of a rich red hue with yellow anthers.

Rare plants of Russia: lady's slipper speckled

The speckled lady's slipper is also considered beautiful in our forests. This plant is found in the Far East and Siberia. This flower lives in mixed and coniferous forests. Two bright green broad leaves cover the graceful stem, and the flower stalk emerges in mid-June. It ends with a bud, which soon turns into a small shoe. Three species of this plant grow in Russian forests: Yatabe's slipper, makranton and calceolus.

Calceolus has a yellow lip, and the cap and long petals are burgundy-brown. There may be 2-4 flowers on a peduncle. But in Macranton they are covered with a fine mesh of burgundy-colored lines over a red-violet or lilac field. At the same time, Yatabe’s shoe is mottled, with purple and yellow specks.

It’s interesting that even a single flower like this is very effective. If you see several of them, it takes your breath away with admiration. These flowers smell amazing, exuding an exquisite aroma. And everyone has their own. All shoes take a very long time to develop and bloom only in the 18th year.

Rare view. This concept appeared in the middle of the last century, after the establishment of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. His documents were signed in 1948 in the French city of Fontainebleau.

The headquarters were opened in Gland, Switzerland. A year later, they created a commission on rare species, starting their identification and systematization from scratch. The list was called red, based on the fact that in nature scarlet is a danger signal.

Many insects, for example, wear fiery outfits to avoid being attacked. Seeing red, predators think that the prey is poisonous. In the case of the book, scarlet signifies the danger of species extinction.

The first volume of the Red Book was published in 1963. There have been several reprints. Some species were restored and excluded from the list, while others, on the contrary, were included in it.

Sometimes it turned out that there was no need to restore the population, it was simply that its completeness was not known. It’s easier to find out the circumstances on the ground. Therefore, countries strive to supplement the international publication with their own, more complete ones.

Thus, the latest version of the Red Book of Russia lists 652 plant species. Information about them follows the list of animals and mushrooms. Whatever kingdom a species belongs to, it falls into one of 6 categories. Let us imagine, in accordance with them, some red book plants.

Rare plants of Russia

This plants listed in the Red Book due to small populations. They are not necessarily associated with sharp declines in species. Often, grasses, trees and shrubs are picky about their habitat conditions and do not settle everywhere.

Some plants, for example, are pollinated by a narrow range of insects and bloom where there are pollen carriers. However, the option of reducing the population due to humans is also possible. Thus, many herbs are used in medicine. While treating others, the plants themselves die. Let’s start with one of these natural “first aid kits.”

yellow water lily

She enters plants of the Red Book of Russia. The flower lives in shallow waters, placing heart-shaped leaves both above and below the water. The yellow flowers are compact, round, and extend into a seed capsule. Therefore, the plant is popularly called the egg-little.

The roots of the yellow water lily are used for medicinal purposes. Before being included in the Red Book, they even made the pharmaceutical drug “Lutenurin” based on them. It has anti-trichomoniacal activity. The medicine was also prescribed for a number of diseases of the skin and mucous membranes.

The photo shows a yellow water lily.

Spotted palmate root

This orchid grows in western Russia. In demand because of its roots. Infusions of plant tubers and ointments made from them fight inflammation, have an enveloping effect, and also strengthen the immune system. Those unfamiliar with the medicinal properties of fingerroot pluck it because of the beauty of the flowers. They are purple, framed by spotted leaves.

In the photo, spotted palmate root

Bell dolomite

He got into description of Red Book plants due to the limited habitat and its active reduction. The flower is endemic to Russia, found only in North Ossetia.

There, the plant can be seen in the Nalchik Botanical Garden. The bell is herbaceous, about 40 centimeters tall, perennial. It has a thin rhizome.

The bell-shaped flowers are white. That is why the plant is called dolomite. Dolomite– sedimentary rock based on calcium carbonate. This component makes the stone light.

Bell dolomite

Nut lotus

It is considered the rarest not only in Russia, but also abroad. The plant is a relict, originally from the Tertiary period. It started 65,000,000 years ago. The nut-bearing lotus is named because of its seeds.

They are based in fruits similar to the bell of a watering can. The seeds resemble nuts. The flower itself is pink. The core is yellow. The species is listed in aquatic plants of the Red Book, because it blooms in swamps.

The most common nut lotus is in India and China, if you can call it common. The plant is symbolic from a religious point of view, useful from a medicinal point of view, used in cooking, beautiful and environmentally friendly. In general, the relict has reasons to die out.

In the photo there is a nut-bearing lotus

Endangered plants of Russia

If rare flowers simply have limited populations and growing areas, then endangered plants are on the verge of extinction, even if they once populated the entire earth. Due to their former prevalence, some of the Red Books are well known. Let's start with them.

Wormwood Barguzin

IN list of Red Book plants wormwood was introduced due to human activity. In part, these are herbal collections for medicinal purposes. The juices of the plant heal wounds. The characteristic aroma of wormwood is associated with the presence of coumarins in it.

This is a type of cyclic ether. Just a couple of decades ago, everyone knew the smell of the plant. Young people find it difficult to remember him. A herbaceous plant from the aster family, about 50 centimeters high, is on the verge of extinction.

Wormwood Barguzin

Plantain Krashennikova

This variety of plantain has linear, elongated leaves. They are usually collected in a rosette extending from the rhizome. The grass does not exceed 15 centimeters. The spikelets of inflorescences reach the same height.

The stamens are longer than the petals. Therefore, the inflorescences look fluffy. Like wormwood, plantain has hemostatic properties and disinfects.

Krashennikov's species was discovered in the Orenburg region. Afterwards, the plant was discovered in a number of regions of Russia. Now, they are trying to discover it again, in the hope that there are unaccounted populations.

Plantain Krashennikova

Common heather

The evergreen shrub is included in Red Book plants. Photo show specimens with reddish bark. In reality, heather is almost impossible to find. If possible, enjoy the beauty of the bush.

Its branches are strewn with small leaves and lilac-pink inflorescences. If the tops are cut off, someone was harvesting the heather for medicinal purposes. Its young shoots are added to diaphoretic and diuretic preparations.

The photo shows common heather

Shrinking plants of Russia

The category includes water, steppe, mountain, forest plants of the Red Book with sharply declining numbers. They cannot yet be called rare, much less endangered. However, the downward trend in the population obliges us to take measures to preserve it.

Otherwise, in a couple of decades, plants in this category will be remembered as wormwood or heather. By the way, back in the 20th century, the most massive extinction of species in the last 70,000,000 years began. Statistics also apply to flora and fauna.

Rhododendron Schlippenbach

In Russia, the shrub grows in the south and Primorye, originally from the Mediterranean. However, in its homeland the flower also blooms buds less and less. The trend also applies to eastern China and Japan, where in the old days the bush grew everywhere.

The Schlippenbach rhododendron reaches 1.6 meters in height and is named after the Russian naval officer. Anton Volmar was born in Sweden, but in 1712 he entered the Russian military service. The flower, named after Schlippenbach, is pale pink with large buds. Each reaches a diameter of 10 centimeters.

Rhododendron Schlippenbach

orchis

The plant with a scary name is an orchid. It has a height of approximately 40 centimeters and thick stems. Up to the middle they are covered with elongated leaves, above - scaly.

Orchis inflorescences are spike-shaped, with many purple buds. The problem is the smell. Flowers smell like bugs. Few people other than botanists are sad about the decline in the orchis population. It is associated with the development and drainage of its “houses”. The plant loves moist soils.

orchis

Daphne

The decline in the number of this shrub also worries only scientists and Nepalese. We'll tell you why the latter later. For now, let's say that wolfberry is completely poisonous. The smell of flowers gives me a headache.

That being said, the pink and cream buds are beautiful. The berries are also attractive in appearance. 5 kill a child, 12 kill an adult. Small doses are fraught with blisters on the skin and irritation.

However, Nepalese are not afraid of this. Residents of the region do not take wolfberry inside, but make it into premium paper. The disappearance of a plant is fraught with the disappearance of a profitable business.

In the photo is a wolfberry

Plants of uncertain status

Remembering what plants are listed in the Red Book, there is almost nothing to say about a number of species. There is not enough information. Maybe they are dying out, maybe, on the contrary, they are thriving.

It is usually not possible to give exact answers due to the complexity of the study. The catfish will climb into deep underwater holes, and the plant will climb to the highest peaks, and look for fistulas. Below are a few examples of the “dark horses” of the Red Book.

Chastuha grass-like

The plant is perennial, herbaceous, 40 centimeters high. The short and thick root can be attached underwater, or perhaps in above-ground form. The buds are collected in panicle inflorescences.

Botanists find it difficult to determine the status of the grass due to its uneven growth and tendency to abruptly disappear. The main factor in the death of chastukha is water pollution. The plant needs almost spring materials. Industrialization has spoiled and continues to pollute thousands of water bodies.

In the photo, chastuha grass-like

Leafless mugwort

It is a flowering plant of the orchid family. Indeterminate status was issued because the mullet lives underground and is a saprophyte. In other words, we are dealing with a plant-organism. It feeds on the remains of animals and other flora. Therefore, you can only find mullet in soil rich in...

Hiding underground, the mullet does not need sunlight and, accordingly, does not produce chlorophyll, a green pigment. You can only see flowers above the surface. 1-5 buds are formed on one plant. Only now, they do not form every year, which makes tracking the grass population even more difficult.

Leafless mugwort

Japanese Uzhovnik

It is a relict fern. It is perennial, no more than 15 centimeters in height. Fronds, that is, leaf-like shoots of a fern, are single. Remains of the “foliage” of previous years remain. It is interesting that the sporangia of the grasshopper literally grow into the frond and are sometimes not even visible.

In Russia, the Japanese grasshopper is found closer to its homeland - in the Far East. The fern was given an indefinite status due to the dynamic development of its growing areas.

The grasshopper is a mesohygrophyte, that is, it loves average humidity, settling on the outskirts of swamps, damp fields and near rivers. Human industrial activity leads mainly to the drainage of territories. Scientists do not have time to track the grasshopper population.

Japanese Uzhovnik

Possibly extinct species

The category includes species whose last officially documented specimen died. However, tracking every plant is difficult. Therefore, species that have not been found for the last 25-50 years are conventionally considered extinct.

The definition of “probably” is associated with cases of discovering plants that were considered extinct. Thus, Medusagina antifolia was rediscovered in 1970. The plant is the only representative of the medusaginaceae family.

The name is related to the shape of the fruit. They are like jellyfish. And in 1994, the Wollemia pine was discovered in Australia. They thought that it became extinct 200,000,000 years ago.

The pine grove was discovered by a park ranger in the country. Let's list a few Russian species that the public hopes may also be lucky. There are 76 of them in the country’s Red Book.

In the photo Medusagina contrafolia

Lily curly

It is popularly known as saranka. In the latest edition of the Red Book, the plant is classified as extinct. Each region of Russia creates its own lists and all of them include curly lily.

It is also included in plants of the Red Data Book of the Volgograd region, where we met a couple of decades ago. There are still reports of locusts today.

However, people share what they see on the Internet and the commission for the protection of rare species is not called to the site. Actually, such a service does not exist. So, these books are conditional. But one thing is clear. If a plant is included in the list, its life is outdated or in doubt.

Lily curly

Volga cinquefoil

It was endemic to Russia and grew only in the Volga region. The leaves of the cinquefoil are pinnate and divided into many thin segments. Small yellow flowers are collected in panicles.

Grass growth is 15-20 centimeters. If you see, at least sign up on the Internet. The World Wide Web allows you to create, although unofficial, the most complete Red Book.

Volga cinquefoil

Regenerating plants of Russia

The number of these plants is small, but is growing steadily, unlike declining species. Information about category heroes is posted on green pages Red Book. Plants of the Krasnodar region, Saratov region and other regions of the country may also be on white pages.

This is a symbol of little knowledge and uncertain status. The yellow pages talk about rare species, and the red pages talk about endangered species. Probably extinct plants - black leaves. But now let's go through the green ones.

Butterbur reed

The plant of the aster family is found mainly in Udmurtia. Outside of Russia, butterbur prefers the lands of Asian countries. The second name of the herb is swamp rhubarb; there are similarities with garden rhubarb. The shape of the leaves resembles a hoof print.

Hence the official name of the species. In the old days it was called the plague root. It was believed that infusions made from the underground part of the plant would protect against the plague. The disease disappeared, and with it the butterbur almost disappeared. In the latest edition of the Red Book, he was declared recovering. The danger is behind us.

In the photo, the reed butterbur

Iris false calamus

This plant has elongated, broadly linear leaves. The central vein on them is convex. The greens are covered with wax. Leaves grow up to 120 centimeters, and peduncles up to 125. So, a giant among .

There are several branches on its peduncle. 2-3 buds bloom on each of them. They are golden. Therefore, the plant is also called yellow iris. There is also the name “marsh”, associated with the flower’s love for moist soils.

Iris false calamus

May lily of the valley

The lily of the valley was the first to be excluded from the list of endangered species. Moscow Red Book of Plants. In the capital region, work was carried out to restore the number of the flower.

Lily of the valley was actively planted in forested areas of Moscow. Along with the new status, the plant moved to a new family. Previously, scientists considered the flower to be linear. Now, lily of the valley is classified as an asparagus.

The appearance of the May lily of the valley is known to everyone. There is only one flower in the genus. There are several subspecies, but they are all similar in appearance and produce from 6 to 20 white, fragrant buds. They hang from one slightly curved peduncle.

May lily of the valley

People thought about preserving the plant world later than the fight for animal populations. First they stood up to protect the birds. The international convention for their conservation was adopted back in 1902. The document was the first aimed at fighting for biological diversity.

Plants became a reason for “battle” only 60 years later. Meanwhile, a number of scientists claim that with the current reduction in the number of flora, within 50 years its species diversity will be reduced by a third. Whether the predictions will come true depends not only on nature, but also on humans.

The rarest plants in the world are the brainchild of nature, which could not resist its onslaught and withstand the immature behavior of people. Just one look at them evokes two contradictory feelings: tenderness for their beauty, annoyance for their precarious position in this world.

Flowers are one of the most beautiful plants that people use to express feelings, landscape design, and decorate homes. It would seem that there are a lot of flowers, you can always find them. But there are several hundred representatives of flower flora and fauna in the world that you will never be able to find.

Presented to your attention are the green friends of our planet that are on the verge of extinction:

"Dicentra the Magnificent" or "Bleeding Heart"

An abnormally beautiful flower, the specimens of which in the world can be counted on one hand. The birthplace of the flower is Asia (Japan, China). The main feature of the plant is the inflorescence of a dark pink color, the shape of which is identical to the heart. The rhizome is brown, arched, the leaves are dark green above, bluish below. The flower loves shade, so it grows next to tall plants that block sunlight. Flowering begins in late spring and early summer. Duration – 1 month;

Home to the tropical forests of the Philippines. Belong to the “legume” category. The leaves are in the form of brushes, the length reaches 1–3 m. The inflorescences change color from jade blue to light green. It is considered a wild plant, not cultivated by humans. The range is gradually narrowing, so ecologists are alarmed by its disappearance;

"Rafflesia" or "Corpse Lily"

It was considered completely extinct until 1994, when a local climber discovered a single specimen on a cliff in the Strait of Gibraltar. Nowadays it is grown both in botanical gardens and the Royal London Arboretum;

Completely disappeared in the wild 200 years ago. It once grew on the banks of the Altamaha River, which is located in Georgia. It was possible to preserve and cultivate the flower only thanks to a family of gardeners who began breeding Franklinia before its disappearance. Each specimen of Franklia is descended from an artificially grown specimen of this family;

Classified as "rare" since 1844. The rarity of the flower is associated with its pollination problem. Previously, this role was played by the sunbird, a now extinct insect. Now one rare specimen is placed in artificial conditions, where they are experimentally trying to find a way to pollinate the flower. But no results have yet been obtained; not a single fruit has appeared in the course of numerous experiments;

A dark red Mexican flower that emits a vanilla scent when in bloom. It can no longer be found in the wild. Under artificial conditions there is a clone flower grown at the beginning of the 20th century. It does not bear fruit, cannot reproduce. One specimen serves only as a beautiful reminder that just a few hundred years ago there were even more beautiful flowers in nature;

"Yellow, purple shoes"

A species of wild orchid that is on the verge of extinction. Its range is located in Europe. So far, no one has managed to keep a flower alive in greenhouse conditions - it dies. It’s surprising that such rare flowers are sold. The cost of one flower is 5 thousand dollars, such a high cost is due to its rarity and impeccable beauty. “Slippers” are adjacent to a special type of mushroom, which serves as their source of nutrition until the flower develops leaves;

A capricious flower that can only live in nature. It, like the “slipper,” feeds on mushrooms. Flowering occurs extremely rarely - once every few years, and only if conditions are favorable for it;

Recognized as one of the rarest. There are two camellias registered in the world - one in New Zealand, the other in London. "Red Camellia" owes its preservation in nature to John Middlesmith, who brought several specimens from China. There are rumors that there are several more camellias in the world, because at one time John sold the flower to ordinary people;

A predatory flower that feeds on insects (spiders, flies). The inflorescences are longitudinal green with small pores, the inflorescences like threads are red. Flowering occurs in late spring and early summer. As soon as the sundew is saturated with another insect, it becomes covered with dew;

A subshrub plant with branching inflorescences of dark blue or purple color. The leaves are palmate, located on top of each other. Rhizome – thick, green stem;

A large snow-white flower, resembling a lily in appearance. Grows in the mountains of Switzerland. But it is difficult to meet him.

Trees that are on the verge of extinction

Trees are the source of life. The oxygen produced by photosynthesis, its unique appearance, and participation in the food chain make each tree species special and important. Unfortunately, due to deforestation and unfavorable natural conditions, the existence of certain tree species remains in question.

“Methuselah Pine” is rightfully considered the rarest in the world. The only specimen grows in the desert White Mountains. The surprising thing is that it rarely rains there, and there is poor vegetation within a radius of several kilometers. The tree literally exudes a ray of life in a desert area where there is not a soul. Its age is over 4500 years. The pine tree was named “Methuselah” in honor of the character from biblical stories, the only long-liver in the world. The exact coordinates of the Methuselah Pine are hidden by botanists. This is done in order to protect the tree from hundreds of curious tourists who could harm it. Many tried to find the “tree of life” on their own, but all attempts ended in failure.

What trees are on the pages of the Red Book of the Russian Federation

1. “Japanese Maple” - tree height 2 m. Green leaves with red edges. Like all trees, the flowering period occurs in mid-to-late spring. It is endangered due to logging and recreational influence. Area – Sakhalin region;
2. “Maksimovich’s birch” is a tree with a bark of gray or gray-orange color, unusual for the “birch” type. The maximum height is 30 meters, and the diameter is 1 m. In the Russian Federation, it can only be found in the Sakhalin region or on the Kuril Islands;
3. “Common hop hornbeam” belongs to the 2nd category of rare habitat in the Russian Federation. The height is up to 20 meters, and the crown coverage is 30 cm. The color of the bark is brown. Leaves are wedge-shaped. Found in forest zones of the Krasnodar Territory, Stavropol Territory, and Western Caucasus.

Is Puya Raymonda the rarest plant in the world?

Puya Raymonda looks like a thorn with a long trunk. It blooms only once in its life, and dies a few days after that. Life cycle – 150 years.

The plant is native to Peru and Bolivia. If you try hard, you can find several copies of this unique plant, but under the influence of various factors (human, natural), the plant dies so quickly that it will soon disappear completely.

The main reason for the decline in the number of Puya Raymonda is fires and damage caused by humans.

There are many plants in the world whose existence on this planet may end. And in many respects the reason for this was the human factor. Deforestation, vandalism, cruelty - all this reduces the number of plants over and over again.

It is so important to understand this now, so that our descendants can admire the mighty crowns of birch and maple trees. After all, if we people don’t pay attention to this now, perhaps soon even plants with a large range that we are familiar with may be in danger of extinction.