1、灭绝 50年后刺枝杜鹃花又“复活“With its stunning display of bell-shaped flowers in colourful hues the Rhododendron is a spring-time delight for garden enthusiasts and bees alike. 娇艳欲滴的钟型杜鹃花在春天时节绚烂绽放，惹无数观赏者甚至蜜蜂昆虫的追逐。 Now a rare lost species of the plant, thought to have died out 50 years ago, is causing a buzz aft
2、er being unearthed at a country house in Dorset. 这种物种被认为 50年前就已经灭绝了，现在又在多西特的一个乡村住宅里被发现，自然会引起大家的热烈讨论。 Ray Abraham, discovered the 100-year-old Rhododendron beanianum just two months after taking up his role as head gardener at Minterne House. It is thought to be the only one in existence in the count
3、ry. 这株已经有 100年历史的刺枝杜鹃花是 2个月前刚获任明特恩住宅区首席园丁的雷?亚伯拉罕（Ray Abraham）发现的。这棵也是国内唯一的一个。 Mr Abraham, 53, said: I was just doing some general tidying up and looking out for what was coming out in flower when I saw it. The Lord was with me and he said he had no idea what it was or what its name was. 现年 53岁的亚伯拉罕先
4、生说他是那天做整理花园的时候发现的这种美丽花朵，真是上帝的一种恩宠，不过他并不知道它是什么植物。 The plant, which is currently displaying a mass of ruby red flowers, was first discovered by Victorian plant hunter George Forrest 15,000ft up a mountain in Yunnan provence, south west China. Seeds were brought back to England 。 这种花朵如同红宝石颜色的植物是由维多利亚时代
5、的植物发掘者乔治?福里斯特（George Forrest ）在中国西南部一万五千英尺的高山上发现的。随后种子被带回了英国。 Rhododendron beanianum was originally planted in the 23-acres of Minterne House, which has been home of Churchills ancestors and now the Digby family for the last 350 years, in 1910. It was well-loved until the late 1950s when it seems to
6、 have been forgotten about. 1910 年明特恩住宅区种植了多达 23英亩的刺枝杜鹃，这里曾经是丘吉尔祖先的老宅，现在迪格比家族在这居住也长达 350年了。本来刺枝杜鹃是很受喜爱的，不知道怎么的到 20世纪 50年代后期时就被大家所遗忘了。 Now the discovery is causing a stir in the horticultural world once again as it is hoped Mr Abraham can cultivate and propagate the plant to sell to Rhododendron coll
7、ectors. 现在这个发现已经引起了世界园艺界的轩然大波，大家都希望亚伯拉罕先生可以繁殖这种植物卖给杜鹃收集者。 He said: I have been a gardener since I was a child, much of that time working with Rhododendrons and Azaleas and I had never seen one like it before. 他说：“我从小就是园丁了，大部分时间都和各种类型的杜鹃打交道，但从未见过这种刺枝杜鹃的品种。 The excited gardener delved into a handbook
8、for the gardens from 1963 to discover the plant listed Rh. beanianum as one of the Rhododendrons in the gardens 这位激动的园丁钻研了 1963年的园艺手册，发现这种刺枝杜鹃被列为园艺中杜鹃花系的一种。 They are incredibly rare, he said. There can only be a handful in the country. It will be very exciting if we can propagate it. Rhododendron co
9、llectors will want to get their hands on one because of its rarity and historical significance. 他说这种植物太稀有了，仅有一株。如果可以繁殖的话当然是很兴奋的事情。杜鹃收集者也会很想得到，因为它的弥足珍贵。 This specimen hasnt been seen or touched in 50 years, nobody knew of its existence. It has been neglected for the last 50 years but with a bit of nu
10、rturing it will recover because of the age of it. 这个样本已经有 50年没有人触碰过了，没有人知道它的存在。它已经被忽视了 50年，但只要稍加培育就会恢复生机。 According to The Royal Horticultural Society only one nursery in Britain was thought to supply the rare species. Tim Atkinson from Sound Garden Designs in Cheshire said they do not sell the plan
11、t. 据皇室园艺社团说，英国只有一个花圃提供稀少物种的。来自切舍的园艺设计师蒂姆?阿特金森（ Tim Atkinson）说他们并不会卖植物。 Tim Rumball, editor of Amateur Gardening magazine, said: There are some plants that are virtually unique and very, very difficult to get hold of and this is one of them. 专业园艺杂志的编辑蒂姆?朗博尔（Tim Rumball）说，有很多植物是独一无二的，很难搞到，而这种刺枝杜鹃就是其中之
12、一。 Yet these are plants that have lived for a hundred years but havent been cultivated and propagated and are just waiting to be rediscovered. It is great to have old and rare varieties rediscovered. If they can propagate this plant and sell it then it will be quite an achievement. 不过这种物种生存上百年却没有被培育繁殖过，就是在等待被发现。能发现古老稀有物种简直太棒了。如果可以繁殖并出售的话将是多么大的成就。
