Was it just me or was there something odd about the story published on Monday June 1st about a recovering bedstraw species (Galium antarticum) on an island between Tasmania and Antartica? (And yes I know the photo is Galium odoratum!)

It’s nice to read a good news environmental story and I’m always pleased when there’s an article in the press about plants. It’s also great to hear that the island rangers are seeing the impact of the eradication of rabbits which took place in the 1980s.

But as the article says, populations of this plant have been seen growing elsewhere on the island since 2013. And it’s not endemic.

Am I missing something here? Of all the possible good (or bad) news plant stories, why this one?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/01/critically-endangered-herb-thriving-on-macquarie-island-after-seven-year-feral-animal-eradication-program?