Salvia caymanensis
Encyclopedia
Salvia caymanensis is a short-lived perennial plant in the genus Salvia
that is endemic to Grand Cayman
in the Cayman Islands
. It was thought to be extinct for more than 30 years until it was rediscovered in 2007. After the damage caused by Hurricane Ivan
in 2004, conservationists thought that conditions might be ideal for the reappearance of Salvia caymanensis if there was still viable seed in the wild. A wanted poster
, offering a 1000 CI$
reward, led to the discovery of the first plants seen since 1967.
, placed wanted posters on the island offering a reward of 1000 CI$
for any living examples of Cayman Sage. The posters were timed to anticipate the usual flowering season of the plant. An island resident, slowed down by road work on the typically fast-moving Queen's Highway, saw the inconspicuous blue flowers from her car window, growing near the side of the road. After the initial discovery, 300 individual plants were found and approximately 18,000 seeds collected.
Salvia
Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, with approximately 700-900 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. It is one of several genera commonly referred to as sage. When used without modifiers, sage generally refers to Salvia officinalis ; however, it is...
that is endemic to Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the nation's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles southwest of Cayman Brac.-Geography:Grand Cayman encompasses 76% of...
in the Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
. It was thought to be extinct for more than 30 years until it was rediscovered in 2007. After the damage caused by Hurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan was a large, long-lived, Cape Verde-type hurricane that caused widespread damage in the Caribbean and United States. The cyclone was the ninth named storm, the sixth hurricane and the fourth major hurricane of the active 2004 Atlantic hurricane season...
in 2004, conservationists thought that conditions might be ideal for the reappearance of Salvia caymanensis if there was still viable seed in the wild. A wanted poster
Wanted poster
A wanted poster is a poster distributed to let the public know of an alleged criminal whom authorities wish to apprehend. They will generally include either a picture of the alleged criminal when a photograph is available, or of a facial composite image produced by a police artist...
, offering a 1000 CI$
Cayman Islands dollar
The Cayman Islands Dollar is the currency of the Cayman Islands. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively CI$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is subdivided into 100 cents...
reward, led to the discovery of the first plants seen since 1967.
Description
Salvia caymanensis can reach a height between 50 and 100 centimetres. The strictly erect stem is canescent above and woody below. The ovate-lanceolate leaves have a length between 2.5 and 3 centimetres and a width between 1 and 1,4 centimetres. They are pale and tomentose on the underside and pilose and dark green on the upperside. The petioles are one-fourth the length of the blade.Rediscovery
In spring 2007 the Department of Environment of the Cayman Islands in cooperation with the Darwin InitiativeDarwin Initiative
The Darwin Initiative is a UK Government funding program that aims to assist countries with rich biodiversity but poor financial resources to meet their objectives under the Convention on Biological Diversity ; the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ;...
, placed wanted posters on the island offering a reward of 1000 CI$
Cayman Islands dollar
The Cayman Islands Dollar is the currency of the Cayman Islands. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively CI$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is subdivided into 100 cents...
for any living examples of Cayman Sage. The posters were timed to anticipate the usual flowering season of the plant. An island resident, slowed down by road work on the typically fast-moving Queen's Highway, saw the inconspicuous blue flowers from her car window, growing near the side of the road. After the initial discovery, 300 individual plants were found and approximately 18,000 seeds collected.