Discovery of a rare flower in Thailand that does not require sunlight

Researchers have discovered a new species of plant in a Thai forest that is capable of living without sunlight. Lacking chlorophyll and not relying on photosynthesis for energy, it obtains carbon and nutrients through fungi in the soil. The scientific journal ScienceAlert reported yesterday that researchers from Chulalongkorn University and Songkla University named the new species “Thismia daemona,” or “Devil’s Flower,” in a study published in the scientific journal PhytoKeys.

The researchers found the plant inside Thung Fa Fum National Park in western Thailand, where the specimens grew among fallen leaves and young bamboo at elevations ranging between 930 and 970 meters. The plant is characterized by its small size, reaching a height of about 12.5 centimeters including the flower. Its flowers are almost black with orange-red parts, and feature three slender, horn-like appendages.

The “Devil’s Flower” belongs to the genus Thismia, sometimes known as “fairy lanterns,” which includes unusual plants that rely on fungi for nutrients rather than performing photosynthesis. The researchers explained that the plant spends most of its life cycle beneath the layer of fallen leaves, emerging above ground only briefly to flower and produce fruit, which helps it survive in shaded forest environments.

To confirm that the plant represents a new species, the researchers examined its anatomical characteristics using microscopy and high-resolution imaging. They also analyzed five regions of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, comparing the results with other species in the same genus. The researchers noted that the discovered species is extremely rare, with only one known population comprising fewer than 50 plants, covering an area of less than 0.05 square kilometers, making it vulnerable to damage from human activities and tourist visits to the area.