Rare, fragrant flower discovered in England

September 08, 2010

A flowering plant known as the Franklin tree was thought to be extinct until recently - however staff at the Trewithen Estate near Truro, Cornwall, England, have seen a handful of the plants blossom, according to The Telegraph.

The plant was originally discovered on the shores of the Altamaha River in Georgia by botanists John and William Bartram in 1765. They named the plant after their close friend and notable character from U.S. History, Benjamin Franklin.

The plant has been extinct in the wild since the 1800s, and now only exists in a few select places on the planet. However, researchers at the nursery in Truro say they expect 10 shrubs to flower in the coming year.

"It's such a rare shrub and extinct in the wild. To see it flower in this country is of great interest to plant lovers," Luke Hazelton, the manager of the nursery, told the news source.

The plant can grow up to 10 meters tall and features wide, cup-like flowers that are very fragrant. White, aromatic flowers like those on the Franklin tree make an excellent addition to any bouquet. According to CountryLiving.com, Moonflowers feature alabaster petals with a strong, pleasant scent. ADNFCR-3114-ID-19937594-ADNFCR

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