Dec 16, 2025
OTTAWA, Dec. 16, 2025 - A few community photos of a unique plant found in Southern Ontario has spurred a species reassessment by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). The species was one of 39 assessments recently carried out by the committee as they undertake the critical first step in endangered species conservation.
“We are thrilled that the Illinois Tick-Trefoil has been rediscovered in Canada thanks to local observations on iNaturalist, and even more so that this discovery contributes to the essential work of COSEWIC,” says James Pagé, CWF species at risk and biodiversity specialist. “The plant is still endangered in Canada due to the limited amount of native prairie habitat remaining in Ontario, but this finding demonstrates the critical role the public can play in conservation.”
The flowering plant in the pea family is common in the United States but had not been reported in Canada since 1978. A 2018 photo uploaded to iNaturalist Canada sparked debate amongst experts, the consensus being that this was in fact the species that was last seen 40 years ago. There are now 30 observations from the Brantford, Ont. area which led to the recent reassessment by COSEWIC.
“The plant’s previous Canadian range remains a mystery as the historic observations were made before GPS, which also highlights the important role of technology in conservation,” Pagé adds. The herbaceous perennial grows up to 10 cm tall with hairy stems and purple flowers that burst when touched, releasing pollen. The key in reporting these observations is to get closeup and in-focus photos of the flowers, leaves and stem, allowing it to be differentiated from more common trefoils.
Pagé said while there are more than 21 million observations across the country, there are about 500 plants from historic records that are missing from the iNaturalist Canada database, as well as 3,500 missing fungi, 900 missing vertebrates, 300 missing mollusks and 700 missing arachnids. But the biggest gap remains in insect populations, where we are missing 10,000 species.
Scientists continue to seek public support to find these missing species by sharing wildlife photos or sound recordings using the free iNaturalist app or iNaturalist.ca.
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About the Canadian Wildlife Federation:
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to conserving Canada’s wildlife and habitats for the use and enjoyment of all. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on wildlife and the environment, carrying out actions to conserve and restore species and habitats, developing and delivering conservation education programs, advocating for changes to government policy and programs, and co-operating with like-minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature. For more information, visit CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca.
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Related Links:
Cosewic Updates Species at Risk: https://www.cosewic.ca/index.php/en/news-and-events/press-release-december-2025.html
