LIFE IP AZORES NATURA | Reinforcement planting of 𝙀𝙪𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙖 𝙎𝙩𝙮𝙜𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙖 subsp. 𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙚

March 31, 2021

Within the frame of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project, and in collaboration of the team from the Santa Maria Nature Park with the Azores Seed Bank and the Azores Rare Plants Nursery, located at the Botanical Garden of Faial (BGF), seeds of the sub-species 𝘌𝘶𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘨𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 subsp. 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘦 were collected in two consecutive years, 2019 and 2020. The population is in critical danger of extinction, due to the invasion of its habitat by the species 𝘗𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘮 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘮 and by high levels of soil erosion in its distribution area, which offers little support to the roots.

The seeds were sent to the BGF for germination under optimal conditions, reaching a germination rate above 70%. The plants were followed up for about five months, including weekly monitoring of the size of the plants and the number of leaves, to better determine the different stages of growth and adapt propagation conditions. Of the 77 plants thereby obtained, 35 have been sent to Santa Maria so far, and most of these have been used to reinforce the natural population. The rest of the plants is awaiting shipment in the coming months.

Find more about our project in: https://www.lifeazoresnatura.eu/en/

Photos: Rita Câmara | Santa Maria Nature Park