Last Thursday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) issued a final rule listing two plants as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The two species, Florida brickell-bush (Brickellia mosieri) and Carter’s small-flowered flax (Linum carteri carteri), are both native to Miami-Dade County, Florida. According to the Service, the species’ habitat has suffered degradation as a result of inadequate fire management, nonnative plant species, and human activities. The brickell-bush is known to be present in just 17 sites, while Carter’s small-flowered flax is known to be present in a mere seven sites.
The listings were made as part of a 2011 settlement agreement between the Service and the Center for Biological Diversity, in which the Service agreed to speed up its listing decision process for over 700 species found throughout the United States.
