It is considered the ugliest orchid in the world and tops the new species list discovered by Kew Garden in 2020
It is considered theorchid ugliest in the world and tops the new species list discovered by Kew Garden in 2020. But it's not the only not-too-nice-looking creature discovered this year. Also keeping her company are a new poisonous mushroom found at Heathrow Airport and a bizarre scaly shrub from Namibia.
They were discovered by the botanists of the Royal Kew Gardens. Over the course of the year, scientists and their collaborators around the world identified around 156 hitherto unknown plants and fungi in Africa, Asia, the Americas and the United Kingdom. Some of the new species could be important to people and the planet, providing a vital income to communities, or have the potential to be developed into future food or medicine, or even just to become the new favorite of passionate gardeners. Unfortunately, many are already considered endangered due to increasing threats to their natural habitat.
"The scientific work to document these plants is only the first step to ensure their future conservation" explain the botanists of the New Garden
Among these, 10 particularly impressed the experts for their appearance that does not reflect the canons of common beauty. From a poisonous mushroom found at Heathrow airport, to what could be considered the ugliest orchid in the world to a beautiful pink flower with edible tubers, the choice was wide and once again demonstrates, beauty or not, the incredible variety of species that man does not yet know.
The ugliest orchid in the world
If we think of orchids, we probably think of elegant, showy, vibrant flowers with delicate colors but Gastrodia agnicellus is exactly the opposite. Discovered in a forest of Madagascar, it has a flower that measures about 11 mm, is small and brown. After it is pollinated, the stems grow, holding the fruit well above the forest floor so that the dusty seeds can disperse better. The orchid is dependent on fungi for food and has no leaves or other photosynthetic tissues.
The new orchid has been assessed as threatened, but as it is located in an already protected national park, it is currently protected.
“In a busy and difficult year, it is so exciting to see botanical and mycological science continue, with an impressive list of amazing newly named species documented with our collaborators around the world. On this list are some amazing new discoveries for science, each with their own unique qualities and potential for humanity. However, the bleak reality we face cannot be underestimated, ”said Dr Martin Cheek, RBG Kew Botanist and Senior Scientist. "It's a race against time to find, identify, name and preserve plants before they disappear."
In addition to the orchid, here are also the poisonous mushrooms discovered in 2020:
© Andy Overall/Kew
Sources of reference: Kew,
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