List of plants that are extinct in the wild

As of December 2023, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists 45 Extinct in the Wild plant species.^[1] Approximately 0.068% of all evaluated plant species are listed as extinct in the wild. The IUCN also lists one plant subspecies as extinct in the wild.

•   Extinct in the wild (EW): 45 species
•   Critically endangered (CR): 5,702 species
•   Endangered (EN): 10,901 species
•   Vulnerable (VU): 9,673 species
•   Near threatened (NT, LR/cd): 4,160 species
•   Least concern (LC): 30,554 species
•   Data deficient (DD): 5,371 species

Plant species (IUCN, 2023-1)

• 66,406 extant species have been evaluated
• 61,035 of those are fully assessed^[a]
• 34,588 are not threatened at present^[b]
• 26,276 are threatened^[c]
• 174 are extinct or extinct in the wild:
  • 129 extinct (EX) species^[d]
  • 45 extinct in the wild (EW)
  • 569 possibly extinct [CR(PE)]
  • 48 possibly extinct in the wild [CR(PEW)]

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1. excludes data deficient evaluations.
2. NT, LR/cd, LC.
3. Threatened comprises CR, EN and VU.
4. Chart omits extinct (EX) species

This is a complete list of extinct in the wild plant species and subspecies as evaluated by the IUCN. All are vascular plants (tracheophytes).

Class Polypodiopsida - Ferns

There is only one species of fern listed as Extinct in the Wild:

• Diplazium laffanianum, Governor Laffan's fern

Class Cycadopsida - Cycads

There are 5 species of cycad listed as Extinct in the Wild:

• Encephalartos brevifoliolatus, Escarpment cycad
• Encephalartos heenanii, Heenan's Cycad
• Encephalartos nubimontanus, Blue cycad
• Encephalartos relictus, Parlota cycad
• Encephalartos woodii, Wood's cycad

Encephalartos woodii is known only from its type specimen, which was discovered in 1895.

Class Magnoliopsida - Flowering plants

There are 32 species and 1 subspecies of class Magnoliopsida listed as Extinct in the Wild, including all 7 currently assessed Brugmansia species.

• Abutilon pitcairnense, Yellow Fatu
• Alphonsea hortensis
• Arachis rigonii
• Brighamia insignis, ʻālula
• Brugmansia arborea
• Brugmansia aurea
• Brugmansia insignis
• Brugmansia sanguinea
• Brugmansia suaveolens
• Brugmansia versicolor
• Brugmansia vulcanicola
• Camellia amplexicaulis
• Cyanea pinnatifida
• Cyanea superba, Superb Cyanea
• Cyanea superba subsp. superba
• Cyrtandra waiolani, Fuzzyflower Cyrtandra
• Dendroseris gigantea, Colecillo
• Deppea splendens
• Dombeya rodriguesiana, Bois Julien^[2]
• Erythroxylum echinodendron
• Euphorbia mayurnathanii
• Franklinia alatamaha, Franklin Tree
• Kalanchoe fadeniorum
• Kokia cookei
• Lachanodes arborea, She Cabbage Tree
• Lysimachia minoricensis
• Mangifera casturi, Kalimantan Mango
• Nymphaea thermarum
• Ochrosia brownii
• Rhododendron kanehirai
• Senecio leucopeplus
• Sophora toromiro, Toromiro
• Trochetiopsis erythroxylon, St Helena Redwood

All currently assessed Brugmansia species have been listed as Extinct in the Wild, however, they are popular ornamental plants that have been cultivated around the world.

Cyanea superba was once found on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii until it became Extinct in the Wild, mainly due to competition and habitat destruction from invasive species and wildfires generated by human activity.

The extinction in the wild of Kokia cookei is largely believed to be a coextinction with native nectivorous birds, which may have pollinated it.

Class Liliopsida - Flowering plants

There are 7 species of Liliopsida listed as Extinct in the Wild.

• Agave lurida
• Aloe silicicola
• Amomum sumatranum
• Bromus bromoideus
• Bromus interruptus
• Corypha taliera
• Furcraea macdougallii

See also

• List of extinct in the wild animals
• List of least concern plants
• List of near threatened plants
• List of vulnerable plants
• List of endangered plants
• List of critically endangered plants
• List of recently extinct plants
• List of data deficient plants