Environment ministry says rare flower population rebounds in restored habitat

The environment ministry said Tuesday that a transplanted population of an endangered wildflower in North Gyeongsang Province has successfully adapted to its local habitat and multiplied significantly through natural reproduction.

The National Institute of Ecology, an agency under the ministry, confirmed that the number of large needle flowers planted along the Jubangcheon stream in Cheongsong County increased 2.5 times over the past year, rising from an initial 200 individuals to approximately 500. The growth occurred after the institute transplanted the flowers last August to a site where the species once thrived before artificial development wiped out the wild population.

Most of the plants bloomed with healthy light purple flowers, attracting insects such as native honeybees and cabbage white butterflies. Observers noted that some individuals spread via underground stems, extending beyond the protective fences of the transplant site. The large needle flower is classified as a Class II endangered wild species.

Kang Jae-shin, head of the Endangered Species Restoration Center at the institute, said the development of local adaptation technology for the flower would serve as a solid stepping stone for protecting biodiversity on the Korean Peninsula. He added that the center plans to continue restoring endangered species to expand the foundation for harmonious coexistence between nature and humans.