This listing identifies plants whose numbers have been reduced to a critical level or whose habitats have been so diminished that they are in immediate danger of extinction.

Of the approximately 270,000 species identified around the world, scientists estimate 12.5% are threatened; however, many areas of these plants' distributions have yet to be explored.

Of 16,108 known plant species in the United States, 4,469 species are listed as threatened, 1,178 as endangered, and 22 are extinct.

Amazingly, the 1997 list of threaten vascular plants contains six times more species than the 1996 publication. SeaWorld is currently searching our collection of approximately 3,500 taxa to find newly identified endangered plants, and we plan to continue expanding our endangered collection.

Guests can find the endangered plants in our garden by looking for an identifying "E" in a green circle on the plant label. Some endangered plants include the Chamaedorea species, C.seifrizii,, C.cataractarum, and C. Oblongata; the Mexican tree fern (Cibotium schiedii); the Clivia lily (Clivia miniata); the Martinez pinyon (Pinus maximartinezii); species of Encephalartos, Dioon, Dietes bicolor; and the Cretan brakefern (Pteris cretica 'Ouvrardii').

The Endangered Species Garden is located by the entrance to Manatee Rescue, just east of the Shark Encounter.