After 42 years of being presumed extinct, the 'Nomevés' (Gyrocaryum oppositifolium Valdés), a rare and threatened plant species of the Iberian Peninsula, has been rediscovered in Andalusia, Spain.
The sighting, confirmed by the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment of the Andalusian Regional Government, occurred in the Sierra Morena Natural Park in Seville province.
Over one hundred living specimens were found on May 7, 2025, offering hope for the species' survival, potentially linked to abundant rainfall this year. The plant, endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, was originally described in Constantina, Seville, in 1982.
The rediscovery is considered a success of conservation efforts in Andalusia. Authorities are reinforcing monitoring and plan to collect seeds for preservation in the Andalusian Plant Germplasm Bank.
Specific measures adapted to the plant's rarity and unique habitat will be developed. Authorities are initiating a new phase of active prospecting in similar areas of Andalusia.