Plants more at risk than mammals or birds

17:33 1st October 2010

New research has shown that plants may be more at risk of extinction than mammals or birds.

According to the grim statistics, approximately one in five of the world's known plant species could be in danger of dying out.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) reported that of the 380,000 species known to man, 20 per cent are under threat.

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) study, some of the species on the IUCN Red List may now even be extinct, while others are at greater risk than ever before.

IUCN team member and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew expert Steve Bachman noted how the findings underline the grave state of affairs facing environmentalists.

"For the first time we have a real picture of what's happening to plants across the world," he said.

In other news, garden and greenhouse enthusiasts have recently discovered the winners of the Britain in Bloom contest.

According to the RHS, the ceremony was hosted by BBC Gardeners' World and Edible Garden presenter Alys Fowler, with Falkland in Scotland retaining its overall winner's crown.