Have you ever wondered if a plant could simply vanish, only to be hiding in plain sight for nearly a century? In the dense, semi-evergreen and deciduous seasonal forests of Trinidad’s Northern Range, that’s exactly what happened with the Bois Lagli tree (Scientific name and family: Xylosma sanctae-annae—Salicaceae).
Last recorded by botanists in 1927, this elusive tropical relative of the common willow was known only from a single “type” specimen—until now. The rediscovery of Bois Lagli is a massive win for Caribbean biodiversity. It proves that our islands are resilient and likely still harbour other “lost” endemics waiting to be found.
Next time you’re hiking within Trinidad’s Northern Range, look closer at the bark and the compound thorns. You might just be standing next to a species the world hasn’t seen in 100 years!
