Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 April 2009
Rodrigues, the smallest of the three Mascarene islands, is in immediate danger of losing most of its native vegetation due to the activities of man and introduced cattle and goats. The endemic fauna has mostly disappeared, leaving two endangered land birds and a fruit bat, and most of the plants may soon follow: seven native species are known only from five or fewer individuals. The author visited Rodrigues for two weeks in June and July 1982 with the Director of the Conservatoire Botanique of Stangalarch, Brest, France, in an effort to locate and propagate many of the rare species.