Spiranthes hachijoensis
.
This is the name of a new species of orchid, among the 28,000 already listed.
One more, which was discovered in Japan.
What is she like ?
It is like shiny, like a work of blown Murano glass.
Its stem is smooth and its flowers are white, pink or purple.
To discover
March: what vegetables and fruits are in season?
The biologist and researcher at the University of Kobe, Kenji Suetsugu, is at the origin of this discovery.
About ten years ago, while walking in a district of western Tokyo, his eyes fell on this flower.
“
Its vibrant colors immediately caught my attention.
I remember being struck by its unique pink petals which look strikingly like glassware.
We found that its morphology was different from other plants we had studied
,” he told Popular Science.
A new species in an ordinary place
The Journal of Plant Research published in mid-March its work carried out with other experts, who analyzed the new species, its DNA and its way of reproducing from every angle.
They concluded that it was different from other orchids.
Not listed so far, it is found in Japan, in lawns and gardens and even some balconies, as well as in Laos and Taiwan.
Until now, specialists thought that there was only one category of
spiranthes australis
, very common in Japan.
There are now two: some with smooth stems, others with hairy stems.
“
The discovery of this new species hidden in crowded places demonstrates the need for persistent exploration, even in places that seem mundane
,” added the researcher, who said he would continue to study the history of this species. new orchid.
