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Alert: The World's Plants Are In Danger

When you picture an endangered species, do you think of a furry creature in some faraway land? Think again! The planet's most endangered species may be right in your yard.

Last week the first major study of threatened plants delivered some bad news. At least 1 out of 8 plant species in the world is threatened with extinction. In the U.S. nearly 1 out of 3 plants is at risk.

Plants disappear when humans destroy plant habitats with new buildings and roads. Also, when plants from another part of the world are introduced to an area, they may crowd out the native plant species.

"The numbers are staggering," says David Brackett of the World Conservation Union. "Plants clothe us, feed us and provide us with most of our medicines. We cannot afford to neglect the fate of the world's plants."

The Union spent 20 years developing its Red List of Threatened Plants, which names about 34,000 species. Included on the list are types of palm trees, roses, lilies and wildflowers.

Nearly all the endangered species grow in only one part of the world. Some endangered coral plants, for example, are found only in Chile.

The World Conservation Union hopes the Red List will encourage nations to preserve habitats. Says Brackett: "We need to move quickly."

Next: J.J. Returns To Her Home In The Ocean