Two extinct New Zealand plant species found

Two native plants of New Zealand which were thought to be extinct have been found, authorities said on Tuesday.

New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC) said Dysphania pusilla, or pygmy goosefoot, was one of the eight native plant species listed as extinct until its surprise rediscovery, scoop.co.nz reported.

It was found at two widely-separated sites - in Canterbury's McKenzie Basin and in Molesworth Station in South Marlborough - within a couple of weeks.

Another native plant, Leptinella filiformis or slender button daisy also found in Molesworth, hadn't been seen growing since the late 1990s.

"The last record of pygmy goosefoot was from 56 years ago and amazingly when rediscovered this year, a few thousand plants were seen at both locations," DOC director-general Lou Sanson said.