Afternoon Map: The Most Endangered Plant in Each State

Conversations about the groups most threatened by human development and climate change usually focus on animals, but plants may be even more vulnerable. An analysis from last year estimates the number of plants that have disappeared since 1750 is double than that of all birds, mammals, and amphibians combined. Plants are a vital part of the food chain, and as more of them go extinct, it could have catastrophic ripple effects across ecosystems.

To draw attention to this issue, the online loan provider NetCredit has illustrated a map of the most endangered plant species in each state. To create the map, they looked at data from the United States Department of Agriculture and found species that were either endangered or threatened on the federal or state level. From there, they selected plants that were unique-looking, had an interesting history, or had a limited range.

The result is a colorful graphic that demonstrates the diversity of threatened species in the plant kingdom. The map includes colorful flowers, like the dragon's mouth of Rhode Island and the American globeflower of Ohio. Other plants look more aggressive like the Nichol's Echinocactus that's under threat in Arizona. Two carnivorous pitcher plants make the list: the Jones's pitcher plant in North Carolina and the canebrake pitcher plant in Alabama.

You can view the full illustrated map below. To see which endangered animal is native to your state, check out this tool.