Locally extinct plant rediscovered in southern Ontario

The plant species, Illinois Tick-Trefoil, had been previously designated as “locally extinct” before it was rediscovered in southern Ontario. (COSEWIC)

A plant species that had been previously designated “locally extinct” has been rediscovered in southern Ontario, according to the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF).

The CWF said community photos submitted on the biodiversity and conservation reporting app iNaturalist spurred a species reassessment by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

The plant species, which has now been confirmed to be the Illinois Tick-Trefoil, was one of 39 assessments recently carried out by the committee as part of their endangered species conservation work.

“We are thrilled that the Illinois Tick-Trefoil has been rediscovered in Canada thanks to local observations on iNaturalist, and even more so that this discovery contributes to the essential work of COSEWIC,” James Pagé, CWF species at risk and biodiversity specialist, said in a release.

“The plant is still endangered in Canada due to the limited amount of native prairie habitat remaining in Ontario, but this finding demonstrates the critical role the public can play in conservation.”

The CWF says the flowering plant is a member of the pea family and is common in the United States. It had not been reported in Canada since 1978, they add.

It was first brought to the attention of experts that it may have returned to the area in 2018, when a photo of the plant was uploaded to iNaturalist. The CWF says since then, there have been 30 observations in the Brantford area, leading to the recent reassessment by COSEWIC.

“The plant’s previous Canadian range remains a mystery as the historic observations were made before GPS, which also highlights the important role of technology in conservation,” Pagé said.

The Illinois Tick-Trefoil is a herbaceous perennial, according to the CWF, and it can grow up to 10 centimetres tall “with hairy stems and purple flowers that burst when touched, releasing pollen.”