An extraordinary discovery- northernmost CP record?

[gregallan]

I noticed reference to this on another forum, and I found the information in English:

see www.unis.no/60_NEWS/6085_Archive_2013/n_13_10_03_new_plant_species/found_in_svalbard_news_03102013.htm

Essentially, Pinguicula alpina has been found at 79 deg North on the remote arctic island of Svalbard. This must surely be the northernmost CP record.

Cheers,

Greg

[kiwiearl]

Thanks for providing this reference Greg. Very interesting.

[Apoplast]

Hi Greg - Thanks for posting that! A quick search of herbarium specimen records suggests that you are correct, that population is at a higher latitude than any other carnivorous plants species - and the only species known on Svalbard.

Although given this recent find, it's possible there are other populations of the arctic species just waiting to be discovered. However, I can't imagine that there's a long line of people waiting to canvas the arctic to find unknown populations of species we already know. I'd be really shocked if someone came across a new to science species of CP in the arctic. That would be neat.

The good news is that I imagine between the population's isolation and the global seed vault being on the same island, that population is probably pretty secure currently.