Herbaria, the Last Resort for Extinct Plant Species
Résumé
Herbaria, which gather collections of plants sometimes collected centuries ago, can contain specimens of species that are now extinct in the wild, or even in cultivation. This chapter presents the experimental approach and the first results obtained for two extinct species, Filago neglecta , an annual herb that used to occur in the open environments of Western Europe, and Astiria rosea , a woody species that was endemic to Mauritius (Mascarene Islands). There are two steps for selection of target species and identification of affine species. The first step was to establish a state of knowledge on the lists of extinct plant species. The second step was to assess the “viability” (ability to produce seedlings) of available seeds, using X-ray microtomography to see the cellular structures inside of the seeds without any invasive and destructive cutting.