General Question

asmonet's avatar

Do you know the name of this supposedly extinct flower is/was?

Asked by asmonet (21445points) January 19th, 2009

Ten or so years ago I remember reading in a National Geographic (or similar magazine) about a flower that had been found in South America. Scientists found a cluster of 6–8 of them, it was a huge find because they were supposed to have gone extinct thousands or millions of years ago. One of the plants was taken to study but it died soon after, as did the rest of the plants from the original area as it was discovered they had a shared root system and the scientists had done irreparable damage to the cluster. They had a picture, they looked like a cross between a pink water lily and a magnolia with a large deep pink flower with petals that faded to a softer pink at the tip and a rather short stem with no leaves.

Any ideas Fluther geniuses?

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

17 Answers

Nimis's avatar

Psst…I think Harp is asleep right now.

asmonet's avatar

I know, it makes me sad. :’(
I’m still doing homework. Double :’(

Nimis's avatar

Maybe someone he will answer it while you’re sleeping.
And it will be like a little present in the morning.
You are going to sleep, aren’t you?

asmonet's avatar

Eventually. :)
What the hell are you saying anyway? I can’t hear you in that little glass house aquarium. Maybe you should throw more rocks. ;)

Nimis's avatar

thwap, thwap

asmonet's avatar

That’s right Nimis, jerk it. Get a head start on our night out with Tits, Sueanne, and Uber. ;)

Nimis's avatar

LOL4RL! Totally should have
linked that last comment to thwart you
from your mischief-as-procrastination ways.

asmonet's avatar

:D Lurve.
It’s all good I finished and just emailed them to my teacher. It’s out of my hands now!
You totally derailed my thread. Jerk. :D
Eight responses and not one on topic!

jrpowell's avatar

Ask Delirium. Her dad is into botany.

asmonet's avatar

That’s a very bold statement.
Thanks.

syz's avatar

Ah, I remember that flower, it was an orchid. Hang on, let me look…..

Are you thinking of this one? Wait, that’s not pink…..

asmonet's avatar

@syz: Definitely not an orchid, and it wa a low lying flower. Kind of squat. But at least you remember hearing about an old flower! Makes me feel less crazy. :)

delirium's avatar

lmao, actually he is more than in to it. He has his Ph.D in it.

I’ll ask when he’s home from his talk.

asmonet's avatar

Thanks. :)

Darwin's avatar

The only possibility I can think of right now is the Wollemi pine, discovered in 1994 but in Australia. Although apparently it has a shared root system the specimens did survive. However, now in the wild the plants are all dying of some sort of mold.

And, of course, this is a tree, not a low, mounded flowering plant.

I’ll be interested to see what the answer is.

delirium's avatar

Dad says its obviously an orchid if its a stem with no leaves, but doesn’t know more than that.

Dad: “IT WASN’T ME! I’M INNOCENT I TELL YOU.”

asmonet's avatar

Haha, thanks for asking Del. At least now I have a clear point to google from. :)

Answer this question

Login

or

Join

to answer.

This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.

Your answer will be saved while you login or join.

Have a question? Ask Fluther!

What do you know more about?
or
Knowledge Networking @ Fluther