What’s happening?
A rare plant has been recorded again in northern Queensland after nearly six decades.
Ptilotus senarius had not been seen since 1967 and was presumed extinct in the wild.
The rediscovery began in June 2025, when images of an unusual plant were uploaded to the citizen science platform iNaturalist.
The images were taken on private property by horticulturalist and bird bander Aaron Bean in the Gilbert River region of northern Queensland.
Following expert review of the images, a new specimen was collected from the same property. This specimen later confirmed the plant’s identity.
Why it matters
The find highlights the biodiversity that still exists across regional Queensland, even in areas that are rarely surveyed.
Researchers say observations made on private land can reveal species that may otherwise go unrecorded, particularly in remote locations where access for scientific surveys can be limited.
Thomas Mesaglio from the UNSW School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences said rediscoveries help guide future research and planning.
“Rediscoveries offer that opportunity to conduct follow-up, targeted surveys and consistent long-term monitoring to give us a better understanding of exactly where and how these species are distributed across the landscape,” he said.
Local impact
The plant was found in a remote part of northern Queensland, within the Gilbert River region.
Researchers say access challenges in these areas often limit the number of formal scientific surveys that can be carried out, making local observations especially valuable.
By the numbers
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Ptilotus senarius was absent from scientific records for 58 years, having last been recorded in 1967.
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The confirmed sighting began with a single observation uploaded to iNaturalist in June 2025 from northern Queensland.
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The rediscovery was formally announced in January 2026.
Zoom in
The initial observation came from a person already working on the land, rather than from a planned scientific survey.
Uploading the images to iNaturalist allowed experts to review the record quickly and support further investigation.
Zoom out
Citizen science platforms now play a growing role in biodiversity research.
They help fill regional data gaps by linking local observations with scientific networks and expert reviewers.
What to look for next?
Further surveys may now focus on nearby areas within the region.
