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Scientists Discover Another 'Extinct' Tree

Posted by Hemos on from the what's-under-this-rock dept.

meta5table writes "Scientists have just discovered a previously extinct tree in Mauritius. This is not quite as significant as the Wollemi Pine, but it is still pretty cool. Now I just wish someone would find a thylacine."

7 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. Someone in Mauritius: This island is treasure ! by simpleguy · · Score: 5

    Figure this, I live in Mauritius which is a small island of a million and a few thousand inhabitants and I first read about this tree on Slashdot.

    I think I need to take a break from the WWW.

    Mauritius is the island where the Dodo bird lived, before being hunt to extinction by the early visitors to the island.

    Mauritius and its neighbouring isles are homes for many rare trees and animals, among which are the VERY rare Pink Pigeon, Echo Parakeet and the Mauritian Kestrel which was once, the World's rarest bird.

    For those who care to know more visit

    http://www.maurinet.com/wildlife.html
    http://www.themyp.com
    http://www.mauritian-wildlife.org

  2. Re:so what? by SpinyNorman · · Score: 4

    You don't understand either the scientific knowledge to be gained from studying it, or the human interest in seeing a glimpse into life on earth 150M yrs ago?

    It also happens to produce Taxol, so has huge commercial possibilities medicinally as well as horticulturally.

  3. Save American Chestnut : Our National Extinct Tree by cybrpnk · · Score: 4

    I can't believe some of the stuff I'm reading from /.ers about how "trees aren't news for geeks". Come on!!! Trees are where books come from!!! Trees are exercises in fractal mathematics!!! Trees are how apes like us escaped extinction from feline and canine predators!!! Trees are just plain cool in several meanings of the word!!! And extinct trees are yet another arena to play Jurassic Park!!! Speaking of extinct trees (or those almost so), nothing can top the story of the American Chestnut ... from "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" fame. More details here. There is hope that one day these magnificent trees will be revived ...

  4. Two, surely. by jedwards · · Score: 4

    Now I just wish someone would find a thylacine.
    We need to find two; you see, when a mummy thylacine and a daddy thylacine love each other very much .....

  5. Re:Save American Chestnut : Our National Extinct T by Queuetue · · Score: 4

    My parents have a 50-year-old blight-resistant American Chestnut in the front yard in NH. Beautiful tree, great chestnut yield, and about a week's worth of work to pick up all the "flowers" and "porcupine eggs" every year. The town wanted to cut it down to widen a road, but when they realized what it was, they left it alone.

  6. I can just see the next Spielberg action thriller by ackthpt · · Score: 4
    Somewhere offshore of Costa Rica, on small island, someone plans a Jungle Theme Park featuring revived species of flora.

    While moving a crated cage a worker slips and is dragged screaming into the cage before his comrades can rescue him. The camera pans past a rainsoaked corner of the crate as lightning flashes...Danger: Jurassic Flytrap!

    Brrr....

    --
    All your .sig are belong to us!

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  7. Pyrenessian mountain goat by Marcus+Brody · · Score: 5
    this is mildly offtopic, but i was reminded of a news article from around a year ago. true story.

    The last pyrenesse mountain goat left in the world was on a 24hr watch by park rangers. There was talk of cloning it, using a related goat species as the surrogate mother.

    And then a tree fell on it...