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Thailand's 'Devil Flower' Blooms in Shadow
5 Sep
Summary
- A new flowering plant, Thismia daemona, was discovered in Thailand.
- It lacks chlorophyll and obtains nutrients from underground fungi.
- The plant is assessed as Critically Endangered due to its small population.
A bizarre new flowering plant, Thismia daemona, has been discovered in Thailand's Thong Pha Phum National Park. This species, known as the 'devil flower,' is characterized by its dark, horn-like appearance and lack of chlorophyll. It lives concealed beneath leaf litter on the forest floor, a stark contrast to typical green plants.
Instead of photosynthesis, Thismia daemona engages in mycoheterotrophy, drawing nutrients from underground fungi. Its discovery in a seasonal, mountainous forest at nearly 1,000 meters elevation was unexpected, as related species are typically found in humid, lowland rainforests. Molecular and morphological analyses confirmed it as a distinct species.
The 'devil flower' is predominantly blackish with reddish-orange fleshy structures and a distinctive mitre-crowned top. This finding extends the northern range of its genus group, Thismia section Geomitra. However, the plant is critically endangered, with fewer than 50 individuals known in one small population, highlighting its vulnerability.
Conservation efforts for Thismia daemona will require the involvement of surrounding communities and formal protection due to its specialized habitat needs. This discovery offers a rare glimpse into a hidden world of plants dependent on fungi and surviving out of sight.
