Throughout the years many animals and plants have disappeared due to a number of reasons such as climate changes, destruction of the ecosystems, and littering of the environment. However, over the last few years many reports have been coming in about animals and plants thought to be long extinct being found alive and well in various places around the world. This holds true for the maresia nana an endangered annually blooming plant that was thought to have died out just under 100 years ago. Recently a group participating in a gardening education course located living maresia nana in Jaffa. Jaffa is a neighborhood near Tel Aviv, Israel.

Why Protect One Plant?

Fragman-Sapir wrote a report on an Israeli plant journal website known as Kalanit about protecting the maresia nana flower. He believes that it does not matter the beauty or size of the plant but it is important to protect the maresia nana because it is a vital part of Israel's heritage and culture. 

Also, if we as humans were to willfully or knowingly allow one plant to die we truly do not know the butterfly affect it may have on the ecosystem's around it. Therefore, humans must do their best to protect all wildlife and plant life and cherish their places in nature and on the food chain.

Where Do The Maresia Nanas Grow Best?

Located mainly in the Mediterranean area maresia nana flowers flourish best in sandy soils. They are listed as being glycophyte's on their ability to resist salt which means that they do not tolerate salty environments and damage easily in soil with salinity. The maresia nana comes from the cruciferae family and the genus maresia. Their leaves are smooth and are stipule free. They only have one leaf on each node along their stem. 

The maresia nana flowers in December, January, February and March and have a small pink flower when in bloom. Currently there are no known subspecies listed and received their name from Jules Aime Battandier. The maresia nanas was first described by DC.

How Can They Be Protected

Currently there is no information about whether Israel is planning on finding a way to cultivate the maresia nana and allow for better growth. However, as individuals we can remember that cutting off or pulling off flowers because they look nice actually damage the plants and can cause them to have problems flowering again. Whenever, a person wants to harvest any plants they should do proper research on how to trim and prune the plants in question so that the plants are safe and will be left with the ability to produce more flowers which is how they spread their pollen and can produce more plants.