A plant species declared extinct over a century ago has been found alive and well — growing in a spot botanists had walked past for decades without recognizing it.
The rediscovery of Gasteranthus extinctus — a tropical wildflower from Ecuador — represents one of the most remarkable botanical finds of the decade. Named for its presumed extinction, the plant was last documented in 1900.
How do you lose a flower?
Ecuador’s Chocó region, where the plant was originally found, has lost over 97% of its forest to agriculture and logging. Scientists assumed the delicate wildflower had been wiped out along with its habitat.
But in a surviving patch of forest, researchers spotted a flash of orange. DNA analysis confirmed it: Gasteranthus extinctus was never actually extinct.
«The name is ironic now — it was named extinctus because we thought it was gone forever. Turns out, it was just hiding,» said the lead botanist.
The find has energized conservationists fighting to protect Ecuador’s remaining forests. It also serves as a reminder that «extinct» is sometimes just a temporary label — and that nature can surprise us when we give it a chance.
Based on botanical research published May 2026.
