Another two significant populations of rare endemic species of the Azores were found in the course of another seed harvest conducted out by Faial Botanical Garden, along with maintenance and environmental monitoring works carried out by Nature Watchers.
A population consisting of about 400 Myosotis azorica plants, commonly known as "forget-me-not" was discovered in the village of Cedros, while a population of Pericallis malvifolia specimens was found in the embankment of the "Fajã" located in the village of Praia do Norte.
"Forget me not" is an endemic species in danger of extinction, about which a natural population was known to exist on Faial, with about 25 individuals.
This species has been the subject of a recovery programme, including through its cultivation in the Botanical Gardens and the conservation of seeds in the Azores Seed Bank.
The Azores Seed Bank, which aims to preserve the natural flora of the archipelago, has set as its main the conservation of 80% of the Region's flora, with special emphasis on the most rare and endangered species.
The conservation of seeds is an assurance for the replacement in nature of these important species in the event of a catastrophe.
Following the development of a protocol for the harvesting and conservation of seeds adapted to the Azores, the regional seed bank currently stores a total of six million seeds from 45 endemic species of the archipelago, accounting for 60% of all endemic species of the Azores.