Anogramma ascensionis

Anogramma ascensionis (Ascension Island parsley fern) is a species of fern in the Pteridaceae family. It is endemic only to Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the eight putative species of its genus, Anogramma.

Description
It is a small fern with delicate yellow-green leaves, which appear like sprigs of parsley (genus Petroselinum).

Conservation
A. ascensionis is only found on the steep slopes Green Mountain on Ascension Island. In 1889, another specimen was recorded, with only a few reports of the species until 1958, when a British botanist had collected one on the north slope of Green Mountain. In 1976, 1986, and 1995, searches were conducted, but were unsuccessful. In 2003, the species was officially declared extinct. It wasn't until 2010 that members from Ascension Island Government's Conservation Department had discovered four of these plants on in a dry rock on a very steep ridge. The plants were watered and kept alive long enough to produce spores. Only two of the ferns had actually produced spores before they died, and these spores were airlifted to Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew where they were raised in a sterile environment to produce sporelings. At least sixty new ferns were cultivated at Kew and on Ascension. Since then, a small number of these plants were discovered growing near where the original four were found.

Causes of near-extinction
There are only 10 species of plants endemic to Ascension Island, seven of which are still known to survive. The island had lost much of its native plant habitat due to invasive animals and plants, which had caused the native plants to lose their habitat. The beginning of invasive species occured in the 16th Century, when goats were introduced to the island by Portuguese explorers. Other non-native animals and plants, including rabbits, sheep, donkeys, and rats have destroyed much of the original habitat and species of the island.

Non-native plants and animals were greatly increased in 1847 when Joseph Dalton Hooker, a British botanist, had advised the Royal Navy to import plants to Ascension Island to change the dry cinder soil and arid climate. Kew Gardens, who's director at the time was Joseph Dalton's father, William Jackson Hooker, helped ship trees to the island starting in 1850. The island was transformed through their efforts, particularly Green Mountain. Competition from the non-native Adiantum (maidenhair) ferns is believed to be partly responsible for the near-extinction of Anogramma ascensionis.

Taxonomy and discovery
In 1842, the species was first recorded by amateur botanist, A.B. Curror, and was then described by Joseph Dalton Hooker after he visited Ascension in 1843. The species name was then changed by Friedrich Ludwig Emil Diels to Anogramma ascensionis.