Asia

Glyptostrobus pensilis – Critically Endangered (CR)

Glyptostrobus pensilis is a species from the family Dracaenaceae. Known as Chinese swamp cypress, it is the sole living species in the genus Glyptostrobus. It is native to China, Lao People's Democratic Republic and Viet Nam.
This rare tree reaches 30 m height and has a trunk diameter of up to 1 m. The leaves are deciduous, spirally arranged but twisted at the base to lie in two horizontal ranks. They are 5 – 20 mm long and 1 – 2 mm broad. The cones are green maturing yellow-brown, pear-shaped. The cones’ length is 2–3 cm and their diameter is 1 – 1.5 cm, broadest near the apex. When mature, they open and release small winged seeds.
Glyptostrobus pensilis typically grows in riverbanks, ponds and swamps. It grows up to 60 cm deep in water and produces 'cypress knees', or pneumatophores, to help transport oxygen to the roots.
Formerly widespread, today very few Glyptostrobus pensilis natural plants remain due to expanding agriculture. Illegal logging and construction are the other major threats causing the habitat loss of this species.

Jamesoniella undulifolia – Vulnerable (VU)

Jamesoniella undulifolia is a species from the Jungermanniaceae family. Known as marsh earworm, it is native to Russia.
This species of liverwort is one of the world's rarest bryophytes. They are believed to be amongst the most ancient of plants surviving on the planet, being dated around 350 – 400 million years ago to the Devonian period.
Marsh earwort has leafy structures with shortly oval leaves, about 1 mm in length and width. The stems are usually bright green, occasionally with a touch of red. Branches come from the side of the stem. Shoots are about 5 cm long and 1,5 – 3,5 mm wide.
The preferred habitat of Jamesoniella undulifolia is the swamp area. It was previously found in Austria, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, North Korea, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Today, the species has very few natural sites which still remain unspoiled (predominantly in Russia – Siberia, Chujkotka, Kamchatka, Manchuria).
The major threat to the existence of this species is the habitat loss due to human activity.

Dracaena serrulata – Endangered (EN)

Dracaena serrulata is a species from the family Dracaenaceae. It is native to Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
This rare tree is distinctive with its height of around 5 m. It has a single trunk and specific large, stiff and spike-tipped leaves. The tree is highly used by locals for various purposes. The leaves are edible, but also used as a source of material for the production of fiber, rope, sling shots and bow-strings. The trunk is use for the creation of music instruments such as drums.
Dracaena serrulata typically grows in high altitudes of drier areas such as plateaus at the back of monsoon mountains, where monsoon rains do not reach.
Major threats for the species are the local customs of use of the tree leaves and the lack of regeneration.

Cypripedium franchetii – Endangered (EN)

Cypripedium franchetii is a species form the family Orchidaceae. It is endemic to China, found in the provinces of Chongqing, Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Sichuan.
Cypripedium franchetii is a rare and local slipper orchid species. It has a restricted distribution and can be view solitary or in small groups.
The species reaches a height of 20-35 cm. It has villous stems. Leaves are three to seven. The lower ones are sheathing, the upper ones are elliptic 6-17.5 cm long, and 3-8.8 cm wide. They are hairy on the veins of both surfaces. The inflorescence is one-flowered with a flower, colored in pink or red with darker venation on all segments.
Cypripedium franchetii requires a specific set of habitat conditions, such as rocky high altitude, nutrient availability and shade. It inhabitants open woods, scrub, grassy slopes, grassy banks, edge of woodland and forests. Vital for the species are the moist and well-drained soils, rich in humus and organic elements. Preferable are the shaded or part shaded habitats.
Major threats are the degradation (alternation) of habitat and the destruction of plants. The species and their natural habitat are subject to collection, trampling, tourism, deforestation, urbanization and infrastructure development. In addition, climate change, drought and soil erosion also constitute severe threats.

Magnolia zenii – Critically Endangered (CR)

Magnolia zenii is a species from the family Magnoliaceae. Known as Zen Magnolia, it is endemic to Jiangsu in China.
The tree grows up to 11 m tall. This species is the earliest flowering magnolia. It has spectacular fragrant flowers. They are colored in white with a purple base and veins. Flowers reach up to 8-13 cm in size. The species blooms in the spring before the development of leaves. After flowering, it forms ornamental fruiting bodies – cones. The leaves are simple and green, with length of about 8-15 cm. They emerge bronze and become medium to dark green. The leaves are alternate and pale green on underside.
The species prefers mixed forest hillsides. Magnolia zenii is found on the north slopes of Mount Baohua at an altitude of 220 m asl.

Phalaenopsis lindenii – Critically Endangered (CR)

Phalaenopsis lindenii is a species of the family Orchidaceae. It is native to the Luzon Island in the Philippines.
This species is small. It is pendant growing and epiphytic. It has a short stem. The leaves are imbricating the stem. They are oblong-lanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate. They can be acute or obtuse. The typical coloration is dark green mottled with silver-white threads.
The plant blooms dainty flowers down a pendant stem. They appear on a lateral, slender, racemose or rarely paniculate flexuose rachis. The inflorescence is up to 30 – 40 flowers on a branch. The flowers are each about 2,5 cm wide. Their color is white with faint purple lines and tint. The lip is white and bright pink with red stripes and yellow at the throat. The foliage has a beautifully marbled pattern of green and grey.
The Phalenopsis lindenii prefers cool habitats. It could be found occurring at elevations of 1000 to 1500 m or above.
Main threats for the existence of this species are the loss and degradation of its habitat, as well as the over-collection for trade due to the ornamental utilization of the plant.

Shorea polysperma – Critically Endangered (CR)

Shorea polysperma is a species from the Dipterocarpaceae family. Known as Tanguile, it is endemic to the Philippines.
The species is an evergreen tree. It reaches 50 m height and has a trunk diameter of 20 m. The leaves are elliptical. They are thin and leathery, measuring about 2,5 – 6,5 cm width and 7,5 – 15 cm length. It has larger fruit calyx lobes which are about 9 cm long and 1.8 cm wide.
Shorea polysperma commonly occurs in forests up to 1500 m altitude. It prefers hilly countries in evergreen mixed dipterocarp forests.
The straight, cylindrical, buttressed bole of this species is widely exploited for its wood. This timber is used for carpentry, paneling, furniture, flooring, stairs, ship building, etc. It is heavily exploited as the most important red meranti timber in the country. Logging is the primary cause for habitat loss.

Tectona philippinensis – Critically Endangered (CR)

Tectona philippinensis is a species from the Verbenaceae family. Known as the Philippine teak, it is endemic to the Philippines, found only on Luzon Island and Iling Island.
The species is a small tree – it reaches up to 15 m height. The diameter of the trunk is about 50 cm. The leaves are elliptical-ovate to ovate-lanceolate. They are 8 – 15 cm long and 3 – 6 cm wide. The species has bright purple blooms. Each flower is about 8 mm long and has a funnel-shaped calyx. The corolla is white. A characteristic trait is the flaky bark.
Tectona philippinensis is found only on Iling Island and Luzon Island. The area of occupancy is in continuing decline due to agricultural and urban expansion, as well as direct exploitation of the species (immature trees are favored for pole production thus affecting the future continued survival of the species).
Major threats for the few remaining habitat sites of Tectona philippinensis (primarily on Luzon Island) are the private ownership of the land and the occurring tourism and recreation development.