A unique Bermuda fern, Governor Laffan's fern, extinct for a century, might now have a new lease on life thanks to conservationists in the US, Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield said yesterday.

At the Tulo Valley Government plant nursery, Ms Butterfield thanked the fern savers and two plant experts from a zoo in Omaha where the ferns spores were cultivated.

"On behalf of the Government and people of Bermuda, my sincere thanks go to Margaret From, Sue Friedman and their colleagues for the success of this important initiative," Ms Butterfield said.

In 2001 five plants of Governor Laffan's fern were sent to Tulo Valley.

"All five responded well ... unfortunately two specimens were lost during Hurricane Fabian and the remaining three were in bad shape. It was time for action," she said.

She congratulated Parks Department employees Sarah Northcott, superintendent of horticulture, and Lisa Outerbridge, curator of gardens, for their foresight in sending the fern spores to Omaha the year before the hurricane.

The Island has three ferns not found anywhere else in the world ? Maiden Hair, Bermuda Shield and Governor Laffan's ? but the "Governor's fern is by far the most threatened," Ms Butterfield said.

The plant was named after Governor Laffan who sent the first living plant to the Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew in 1882. They were found in caves in the Walsingham area up to 1905, when they became very rare to find.