An expedition team has found a rare Brazilian tree that botanists thought might be extinct after nearly two centuries without a confirmed sighting The Pernambuco holly tree (Ilex sapiiformis) which can grow to a height of 12 meters (nearly 40 feet) was found again in March in northeast Brazil by a team led by ecologist Gustavo Martinelli in a fragment of forest next to a sugarcane plantation in the municipality of Igarassu part of the greater metropolitan area of the city of Recife in Pernambuco state “The moment when we found Ilex sapiiformis, it seemed that the world had stopped turning its gears,” local researcher Juliana Alencar said in a statement “Finding a species that hasn’t been heard of in nearly two centuries doesn’t happen every day and the emotion of it was felt throughout the entire team “It was like finding a long-lost and long-awaited relative that you only know by old portraits,” said Groppo a researcher at the University of São Paulo The Pernambuco holly was described by science in 1861 That original specimen was the only confirmed record until now The team spent months searching herbarium records globally before an unidentified 1962 sample provided a lead that helped Alencar pinpoint survey areas The team searched four areas in the Recife metropolitan region Identifying the inconspicuous greenish flowers among similar holly species was challenging but the researchers spotted the four plants on their second day in the field “It was exciting when we found the first individual of Ilex sapiiformis thanks to the keen eyes of [field assistant] Mr who was able to find some white flowers in a tree alongside the dirt road,” Groppo said The trees live in an area once dominated by tropical Atlantic Forest but that’s now primarily urban sprawl with sugarcane plantations dispersed throughout Less than 7% of the original forest biome remains most in fragments of less than 50 hectares and he said he suspected that flooding had inundated the roots and killed the tree “The Pernambuco holly is in an emergency situation now,” Martinelli said work with the landowner to better protect the site and they’re still determining how to fund these efforts Re:wild, a U.S.-based NGO, said it’s working with Martinelli to get the area where the Pernambuco holly was found listed as an Alliance for Zero Extinction site since it’s the only known area where the plants live that could open up more resources to help the Pernambuco holly Martinelli said he’s found more than 20 species lost to science during his career “I love the challenge of finding lost plants,” he said “It’s incredible that the Pernambuco holly was rediscovered in a metropolitan area that is home to nearly six million people,” said Christina Biggs “Even if a plant hasn’t had a confirmed sighting in 186 years it could still be hanging on in the last vestiges of the wild somewhere and this tree is a perfect example of why it’s important to keep looking.” Banner image of Ilex Sapiiformis courtesy of Fred Jordão Last chance: Study highlights perilous state of ‘extinct in the wild’ species FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] No sightings of the Pernambuco holly tree had been confirmed since the species was first identified in 1838 Scientists have now found four of the trees in the city Igarassu in north-east Brazil By Luke Taylor The Pernambuco holly (Ilex sapiiformis) tree has been identified by scientists for the first time since 1838 A holly tree in north-east Brazil that was last seen almost two centuries ago and was thought to possibly be extinct has been rediscovered by scientists in a city Following several months of research and six days of searching, Gustavo Martinelli at the environmental consultancy firm Navia Biodiversity in Rio de Janeiro white flowers of four Pernambuco holly (Ilex sapiiformis) trees in forests within Igarassu There has been no other confirmed sighting of the tree species since it was identified by Scottish naturalist George Gardner in 1838 Martinelli and his colleagues were directed to the elusive trees after two unconfirmed samples of the Pernambuco holly were obtained from the area in 1962 and 2007 Pernambuco holly can reach 8 to 12 metres in height, but it is still difficult to spot, as it resembles many other species within the same group of trees As well as not being identified by scientists in nearly two centuries the researchers say the sighting was more remarkable still given that the trees were found in a metropolitan area that is home to nearly 6 million people the region is now mostly made up of urban areas dotted with sugar cane plantations “The moment when we found Ilex sapiiformis, it seemed that the world had stopped turning its gears,” researcher Juliana Alencar said in a press statement meaning that the male and female reproductive organs are on separate individuals Researchers at the Botanical Garden of Recife in Brazil will now study the trees to consider how the species can best be conserved They plan to return to the site weekly to see if the trees are fruiting and hope to collect their seeds for germination Read more Tiny clam that was thought to be extinct found alive Pernambuco holly is one of the 25 most wanted lost species in the Search for Lost Species programme created by the conservation group Re:wild in Austin It is also the ninth to be rediscovered by science since the project launched in 2017 “We don’t often think of plants as being lost to science, because they don’t move like animals, but they are every bit as integral to the ecosystems they are native to,” Christina Biggs at Re:wild said in the statement. “Even if a plant hasn’t had a confirmed sighting in 186 years, it could still be hanging on in the last vestiges of the wild somewhere and this tree is a perfect example of why it’s important to keep looking.” Explore the latest news, articles and features President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated on Wednesday (Sep. 11) that Brazil will continue to welcome Venezuelan refugees. Speaking to Radio Norte FM in Manaus, Lula expressed hope that Venezuela would “return to normalcy,” alluding to the ongoing economic, social, and political crises in the neighboring country. “The Minister of Foreign Affairs [Mauro Vieira] has been directed by the Brazilian government to ensure that we treat those coming to Brazil out of necessity with the utmost respect,” said Lula. “As you know, human beings are somewhat nomadic—when they have no food or work, they seek other places to survive.” “We must treat those arriving here with dignity, and the federal government is responsible for helping the state of Roraima provide for their education and well-being,” added the president. “We don't want these individuals to endure more hardship here after the struggles they faced in Venezuela.” Lula stated that he plans to visit Roraima soon, where he will discuss the situation with Governor Antonio Denarium, though he did not specify a date. Boa Vista and Pacaraima in Roraima serve as the primary entry points for Venezuelans seeking better living conditions in Brazil. To address the humanitarian needs at the border, the Brazilian government, in collaboration with over 120 national and international organizations, civil society, and private sector partners, is conducting Operation Welcome (Operação Acolhida). According to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency, Brazil saw 1,134,532 Venezuelan migrants enter the country between January 2017 and July 2024. Of this number, 532,773 have since departed. Reporting by Paula Arend Laier; Writing by Carolina Pulice; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Bill Berkrot Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved scientists have rediscovered a species of small holly tree in Brazil that had not been seen for nearly two centuries known as ‘Ilex sapiiformis’ or the Pernambuco holly was feared to be extinct until an expedition in the urban city of Igarassu Conservationists and experts consider this rediscovery to be an extraordinary and significant find Month:  Category: