"Underground Tree and Orchid Among Top New Plant Discoveries in 2023"

Scientists at the Royal Botanical Garden Kew have named several new plant species, including two types of underground trees, a unique underground palm, an orchid found atop a volcano, fungi from Antarctica, and a potentially carnivorous plant from Mozambique. With an estimated 100,000 plant species yet to be identified, researchers are racing against time to document and protect these species from extinction due to habitat destruction. Indigenous knowledge and exploration of diverse environments are crucial for discovering new species, which could hold potential benefits for medicine and other applications.