Trees are our lifeline as they give us oxygen which we use for breathing. We should try sincerely to save trees from extinction. These days many trees are facing the threat of extinction and they are known as endangered species. Several countries have passed laws to safeguard the endangered trees by revitalizing the natural habitats of these endangered species.
Here is a list of top seven endangered trees.
1. Bois dentelle or elaeocarpus bojeri
The scientific name of Bois Dentelle is Elaeocarpus bojeri. This is a flowering plant found only in Mauritius. This plant belongs to the Elaeocarpaceae family. The tree has long white sprays bearing bell-shaped flowers. The tree has got its name Bois Dentelle or “Lace Wood” due to the unique patterns of its flowers. You can find this highly endangered tree on the Piton Grand Bassin hill in Mauritius. These trees are definitely endangered because only two of them are now surviving. This tree is not commercially viable and this is one of the main reasons why it is facing the grave threat of extinction. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation have made sincere efforts to protect the last two trees and they have succeeded in making two offspring of this tree in a nursery using the treesâ seeds.
2. Dracaena cinnabari, the Socotra dragon tree or dragon blood tree
The common name of Dracaena cinnabari is the Socotra dragon tree or dragon blood tree. This tree is the native of the Socotra archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The tree is called the dragon blood tree because of the red sap that it produces. It is a monocot plant but displays secondary growth. This tree bears small fleshy berries as fruits. The fruits contain between 1 and 3 seeds. The tree is facing the threat of extinction due to human activities including overgrazing, forest cutting and development of industries. Though this tree is found in several parts it is now an endangered species.
3. Adansonia
Adansonia is an endangered tree which is actually a genus of eight tree species. Six species of this tree are native to Madagascar, one is mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsulaâs native and one tree is native to Australia. The common names of this tree are baobab, boab, bottle tree, upside-down tree and monkey bread tree. The scientific name of this tree honors Michel Adanson, the French naturalist who found this tree. This tree can touch a maximum height of 30 meters and the trunk can be 7 to 11 meters thick. It is believed that some baobabs can survive for thousands of years.
4. Clanwilliam cedar
The scientific name of Clanwilliam cedar is Widdringtonia cedarbergensis. The tree can be 6-18 m in height. The tree is the native of Cederberg Mountains in South Africaâs Western Cape Province. This tree grows on rocks, cliffs and slopes. This tree is a good source of timber and it was used extensively by the European settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries. The over exploitation of this tree for timber has led this tree to become an endangered tree now. The tree takes nearly 30 years to bear seeds and the senseless cutting never allowed this to happen. Many trees were destroyed due to the fire in the Cederberg Mountains in 1989 and 2002.
5. Monkey puzzle tree
The scientific name of Monkey puzzle tree is Araucaria araucana. This evergreen tree is the national tree of Latin American Nation Chile. This tree is also known as Monkey tail tree. This tree can reach a maximum height of 40 meters and its trunk can grow up to 2 meters in diameter. Native to central and southern Chile, South Brazil and western Argentina, this tree is the hardiest species in the Araucaria family. This tree is also referred as fossil fuel because of its long life span.
6. St. Helena gumwood
The scientific name of St. Helena gumwood is Commidendrum robustum. This endangered tree can reach a height of five to eight meters. The branches of this tree grow low forming an umbrella-like canopy. The ends of branches bear white flower heads. This tree is native of St. Helena. In 1977, this tree was designated as the national tree of St. Helena. This tree is used as a source of timber since 1659. The over exploitation of this tree for timber has made it an endangered species.
7. Loulu
The scientific name of Loulu is Pritchardia limahuliensis. It is a critically endangered tree endemic to Kauai. You can find this tree only in the Limahuli valley. This endangered tree grows in lowland moist forest. Around 300 trees are now present on the earth. The biggest threat to the survival of this tree is grazing and the introduction of exotic plants.
