title: The Fate of the World's Plants.
abstract: A recent report assessing the world's plant species finds continuing progress in completing the taxonomic catalog. However, many undescribed species remain. The report concludes that, presently, 21% of known species risk extinction. We show this statement applies to the short-term and ignores the as-yet undescribed species, which are also likely at risk of extinction. Human actions will extirpate many more by the end of this century.
authors.affiliation: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, NC 27708, USA. Electronic address: Stuartpimm@me.com.
authors.forename: Stuart L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pimm
authors.affiliation: Missouri Botanical Garden, PO Box 299, St Louis, MO 63166-0299, USA.
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Raven
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D010944:Plants