Parrot’s Beak (Lotus berthelotii)

Parrot’s Beak (Lotus berthelotii)

Classified as exceedingly rare since 1884, the Parrot’s Beak flower is believed to be extinct in the wild, though some individuals believe it may still be alive.  The plant is native to the Canary Islands and is believed to have been originally pollinated by sunbirds which have long gone extinct.  Experiments have been done to see if the flowers could have found new pollinators but, as of 2008, none of these experiments have been successful.  For all the efforts made to take this one back home, the Parrot’s Beak flower makes number 8 on our list of the rarest flowers.