This Plant Was Deemed Extinct – Now They Found it in Hawai

A hibiscus thought to be extinct was rediscovered on a remote cliffside in Hawaii thanks to drones, giving hope to scientists who see the potential this technology has in the discovery – and rediscovery – of different species of plants.

“I think there’s really unlimited possibilities,” says Ben Nyberg, drone specialist for the Kaua’i-based National Tropical Botanical Garden. “There’s so many different ways that this technology can be used in so many different fields. When examining floristic diversity throughout the Hawaiian Islands, no other valley compares to Kalalau in the number of its unique species. Kalalau Valley also contains the highest number of threatened plant species, with 51 that are currently federally listed as endangered.”

The drone used a grid system to scan the cliffs and captured one image of what was believed to be three specimens of the Hibiscadelphus woodi, discovered in 1991, last seen in 2009, and deemed extinct in 2016. They were located approximately 200 m below the ridgeline, a section not accessible to humans. The new technology can help access treacherous areas otherwise inaccessible for ground exploration.