Scientists identify 'alien' flowering plant

After further study through collaboration with other researchers from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden under the CAS, they realized that the plant was a new species of Thismia.

On Feb 28, the researchers from KIB and XTBG described the new species, named Thismia malipoensis, in an article published in the international botanical journal Willdenowia. The discovery marked the eighth recorded species of Thismia in China.

Ya is the first author of the research article titled "Phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses of Thismia (Thismiaceae) support T. malipoensis as the eighth species in China".

According to the researcher, the unusual, elusive plants are herbs that completely rely on specific fungi for their supply of organic nutrients and only emerge above ground during flowering and fruiting periods. The colorful plants have a completely degraded photosynthetic function, possessing only a few scale-like leaves. The shape of their flowers is also unusual.

Thismia plants are almost exclusively distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia and the Americas, with the exception of the T. americana from the central United States, which is thought to be extinct, according to the article.

Since the genus was established in 1845, Thismia species discovery had progressed very slowly, with only 40 species found worldwide through 1999. After 2011, at least one new species per year has been found. To date, 106 species and one variety have been recognized.

Thismia taiwanensis was the first species to be discovered in China, and the only one found until 2002.

However, when most fairy lanterns are found, there are only a small number of them in any area, said Dr Yu Wenbin from XTBG, one of the article's corresponding authors. Because they are highly reliant on a specialized fungal host, their distribution ranges may be restricted by the availability of the fungi.

"Thismia plants are usually very small, inconspicuous and out of the ground in the flowering and fruiting seasons usually for a very short period of time," Yu said. "Most Thismia species have extremely small population sizes and may be more sensitive to environmental changes. Their conservation presents unique challenges."

Given the high dependence of Thismia plants on specific mycorrhizal fungi for seed germination and seedling establishment, the most effective conservation strategy for these species involves in situ protection, emphasizing the preservation of their natural habitats, Yu said.