This is a fantasy plant, and is represented solely as an artistic, fantasy specimen. This is a hobby for me, and I enjoy making species that don’t actually exist, but could.
Hydrocotyl Perforifolia “Perforated Hydrocotyl”
H. Perforifolia; a semi-aquatic plant in the family Araliaceae or Pennyworts. It is of unknown genetics, however confidence is high that this species does in fact belong to Hydrocotyl. Additional study will be needed to determine its closest relative species, however since 2018 botanists have been unable to again locate this plant.
The plant is easily recognizable by the perforations on both juvenile and mature leaves and its most likely habitat would be near watersheds and waterfalls where there is consistent standing water. This makes them more susceptible to pollution issues.
Water pollution from illegal dumping of chemicals in sensitive watersheds is believed to significantly hamper the lifecycle of H. Perforifolia. If this plant still exists it is likely extremely isolated in downstream areas from the first sighting area as it disperses seeds from small clusters after white blooms near the base of the plant are pollinated. Seeds are most likely buoyant and thus spread using water motility.
Severely at-risk, conservation efforts should continue to protect the delicate ecosystems that foster understudied species such as H. Perforifolia. Protecting our rainforests is as important as ever to make sure plants like this make it into the future. Using AI, we can now interpret plants that may have existed but are now extinct, or could still be out there at risk or becoming one of the nearly 137 species that are driven to extinction every day.
I find that it is easier for people to take notice of the harm that arises from deforestation when they can visually imagine the damage occurring. Anyone can throw statistics at someone, but showing the possible beauty that is at risk daily tends to open eyes a bit more. I hope that by following my series of 137 fantasy plants and stories, you’ll appreciate more than ever the 137 unidentified and lost species every day from deforestation. I strive to provide fictitious stories that still contain real facts, maps, and prominent figures. These stories are not real, but the years of deforestation are accurate, as is the satellite imagery.