Rediscovery of an ‘Extinct’ species Scleria sumatrensis Retz. in Taiwan using both morphological and molecular authentications

Rediscovery of an ‘Extinct’ species Scleria sumatrensis Retz. in Taiwan using both morphological and molecular authentications

Determining the correct conservation status of a species provides fundamental and critical information for species conservation policies. However, species traits and limited research efforts might decrease the accuracy of conservation assessments. Scleria sumatrensis has been considered a regionally extinct sedge plants in Taiwan, and the only, previous record of this species was from a collection provided by Urbain Faurie in 1914. More than one hundred years after Faurie’s record, we confirm the current occurrence of S. sumatrensis in Taiwan via morphological and molecular authentications in the present study. The morphological details of S. sumatrensis are provided based on the descriptions and illustrations. The conservation status for this species is reassigned to the Critically Endangered (CR) category. Further conservation efforts and research on S. sumatrensis are also discussed.