Flora of Tropical East Africa

The Flora of Tropical East Africa (FTEA) is a catalogue of all 12,104 known wild plant species in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. The project began in 1948 and was finally completed in September 2012. Approximately 1,500 new plant species were described, by 135 botanists from 21 countries.[1]

The Flora of Tropical East Africa, a project of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is the largest regional tropical Flora ever compiled. The species covered include 3-4% of the world's known plant species. When the project began in 1948, botanists thought they would be finished in fifteen years. Just in the last four years, 114 new species were described.[1][2]

The FTEA is an important tool for conservation of plants, wildlife, and habitat in the entire region. Approximately 2,500 of the species are endemic, or unique, to the area. The project will be used in collaboration with groups such as the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in order to protect those species threatened with habitat loss or extinction.[3]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Tropical East Africa's epic flora survey completed". BBC Nature. British Broadcasting Company. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  2. ↑ "Flora of Tropical East Africa". Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "60 year project documenting plants of East Africa celebrated at Kew Gardens". Kew News. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
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