Scientists have identified 125 new plant species last year, as part of a global effort to catalog the remaining unknown flora. Among these discoveries are some truly bizarre specimens, including a zombie fungus that "dances" by rising from a trapdoor and infecting its prey.
In a breakthrough that has shed light on the unique life cycle of this spider-eating fungus, scientists used portable genome technology to decode its genetic blueprint in the field. The fungus, dubbed Purpureocillium atlanticum, is capable of surviving for months without food or water before emerging from the corpse of an infected trapdoor spider.
Meanwhile, a bloodstained orchid that mimics the appearance of female flies has been discovered in the high Andes forests of Ecuador. Its showy yellow flowers are stained red at the lip and emit a scent that attracts male flies for pollination. However, the plant's habitat is already under threat due to deforestation and mining activities.
Another discovery includes an 18-metre-tall tree from Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, that produces round fruits tasting of banana and guava with an eucalyptus aftertaste. The tree, named Eugenia venteri, is thought to have evolved to rely on giant ground rats for pollination.
Other notable discoveries include a stunning red-fruited palm from the Philippines, which can grow up to 15 metres tall, and a critically endangered snowdrop species that has been hiding in plain sight in UK gardens. The tiny plant's population size makes it vulnerable to collecting for horticultural purposes, while overgrazing and fires pose additional threats.
The world of plant taxonomy is vast and largely unexplored, with estimates suggesting there could be as many as 2 million species of fungi globally, many of which remain undiscovered. However, scientists warn that humanity's destructive impact on nature poses a significant threat to these discoveries, as the destruction of habitats and climate change accelerate biodiversity loss.
In an effort to protect these newly identified species, researchers plan to collaborate with local partners to safeguard their habitats or conserve seeds in national seed banks and at Kew's Millennium Seed Bank.
In a breakthrough that has shed light on the unique life cycle of this spider-eating fungus, scientists used portable genome technology to decode its genetic blueprint in the field. The fungus, dubbed Purpureocillium atlanticum, is capable of surviving for months without food or water before emerging from the corpse of an infected trapdoor spider.
Meanwhile, a bloodstained orchid that mimics the appearance of female flies has been discovered in the high Andes forests of Ecuador. Its showy yellow flowers are stained red at the lip and emit a scent that attracts male flies for pollination. However, the plant's habitat is already under threat due to deforestation and mining activities.
Another discovery includes an 18-metre-tall tree from Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, that produces round fruits tasting of banana and guava with an eucalyptus aftertaste. The tree, named Eugenia venteri, is thought to have evolved to rely on giant ground rats for pollination.
Other notable discoveries include a stunning red-fruited palm from the Philippines, which can grow up to 15 metres tall, and a critically endangered snowdrop species that has been hiding in plain sight in UK gardens. The tiny plant's population size makes it vulnerable to collecting for horticultural purposes, while overgrazing and fires pose additional threats.
The world of plant taxonomy is vast and largely unexplored, with estimates suggesting there could be as many as 2 million species of fungi globally, many of which remain undiscovered. However, scientists warn that humanity's destructive impact on nature poses a significant threat to these discoveries, as the destruction of habitats and climate change accelerate biodiversity loss.
In an effort to protect these newly identified species, researchers plan to collaborate with local partners to safeguard their habitats or conserve seeds in national seed banks and at Kew's Millennium Seed Bank.
can you even imagine having a zombie fungus that dances its way into your spider?! 
Purpureocillium atlanticum is seriously wild! And I'm loving the bloodstained orchid, it's like something out of a sci-fi movie 
. But for real though, these discoveries are just mind-blowing and also super sad because habitats are being destroyed 
. We need to do more to protect our planet's biodiversity, like, ASAP! 
Let's preserve these amazing species and their habitats so future generations can enjoy them too 
i mean, we should be grateful for scientists who r workin hard to catalog all these new species, but also gotta acknowledge the impact of deforestation & climate change on our environment 
. we need to find a balance between progress & preserving nature's wonders 
. let's support conservation efforts & respect the habitats of these amazing plants & fungi 
OMG, can you even imagine a zombie fungus that "dances" its way into infecting spiders? Like, what's next? A tree that plays music to attract pollinators? 
But seriously, these new discoveries are like, whoa! I'm not surprised they found an orchid that looks like a fly – nature is full of tricks. And the giant ground rat-pollinated tree from Papua New Guinea sounds like something out of a fantasy novel.
. The idea that there could be as many as 2 million species of fungi globally is mind-blowing... I mean, can you even imagine how many more weird and wonderful creatures are just waiting to be found? 
But at the same time, it's so sad to hear about the destruction of habitats and climate change accelerating biodiversity loss. We need to take better care of our planet before we lose all these amazing discoveries forever 
. And what's up with this zombie fungus that "dances" by rising from a trapdoor? That sounds like something straight out of a horror movie! 
. And that 18-metre-tall tree from Manus Island? Mind-blowing! 
. We need to step up conservation efforts ASAP and support researchers in their mission to protect these incredible finds 
And have you seen pics of that bloodstained orchid? It's like something outta sci-fi! But for real, it's crazy to think about how many unknown plants are still out there waiting to be discovered. 2 million species is wild, right? 
! I mean, who wouldn't want to learn more about zombie fungus that "dances" on a trapdoor? It's like something out of a sci-fi movie 
! And can you believe there's an 18-metre-tall tree in Papua New Guinea that produces round fruits with banana and guava flavors? It's wild 
. I mean, we're basically just piling on more problems with our deforestation and mining activities... like, can't we just chill for a sec? And what's up with these new plant species trying to mimic other animals to get pollinated? It sounds like they're trying way too hard 
. And honestly, I'm not really sold on the whole conservation thing - it feels like we're just putting Band-Aids on the real problem...
We gotta step up our game, folks!
... and did you know there's 2 million+ species of fungi globally that we still don't know about?! 
is wild. And can you believe there's a bloodstained orchid that tricks flies into thinking it's a female fly? 
. The idea that there could be as many as 2 million undiscovered fungi species is mind-blowing... and terrifying? 
I hope we can find ways to protect these discoveries and preserve biodiversity.
That's just too cool. The fact that it's critically endangered just makes me want to hug it 
. But what's worrying is that there could be as many as 2 million species of fungi globally that remain undiscovered, and we're destroying their habitats left and right 
. We need more people like them fighting for biodiversity conservation 
.
is straight out of a horror movie! And the orchid that looks like a fly 
. I guess we need to rethink our whole understanding of how plants interact with each other. We're still discovering so many weird and wonderful species out there, it's mind-blowing! 
And sadly, it's not all good news - habitat destruction is a huge threat to these discoveries. 
But seriously, it's crazy how many species are still unknown to us and we need to protect their habitats ASAP 
I'm so hyped about this discovery! Those zombie fungus sounds like straight outta sci-fi, but the fact that it's real is wild 
. The issue of habitat destruction and climate change is super worrying though - we need to take action to preserve these species before it's too late 
. And I love that researchers are teaming up with local partners to protect habitats, that's the kind of collaboration we need! 
anyway, I'm all for conserving these species and habitats - we need to protect our planet's biodiversity ASAP