One of rarest flowers in world blooms for first time in 200 years

One of the rarest flowers in the world which is now extinct in the wild has been successfully grown in a part of Britain where it disappeared 200 years ago.

The Franklinia alatamaha – known as the Franklin tree – has large fragrant, cup-shaped, snow-white blooms and is part of the tea family.

It was first discovered in 1765 by Philadelphia botanists John and William Bartram who named it after close friend Benjamin Franklin.

They found the Franklin tree on the banks of the Altamaha River in Georgia, USA, but it has been extinct in the wild since 1800s.

The plant is now only found in a handful of places on the planet but has now been cultivated at the Trewithen Estate nursery near Truro, Cornwall.

A specimen was brought back to the nursery in 18th Century but soon disappeared and was feared lost forever.

But staff say three shrubs have now flowered and they expect another ten to flower next year.

Nursery manager Luke Hazelton said: ''It is such a rare shrub and extinct in the wild. To see it flower in this country is of great interest to plant lovers.

''I've talked to plant experts at the Royal Botanical Garden, Kew, and they're surprised and excited as we are, especially as it's flowering earlier than expected.'' ...

via One of rarest flowers in world blooms for first time in 200 years - Telegraph.