From spectacular orchids to towering trees – 2018's top new plant discoveries

Around the world, species hunters unearth 128 vascular plants and 44 species of fungi, many already facing extinctionA spectacular orchid sold from a barrow in a Laos market, a flower which may contain cancer-fighting chemicals, and a tall tree found beside an African highway, are among more than 100 plants that were newly discovered by science in 2018. But experts warn it is a “race against time” to discover many new species before they become extinct.Species hunters scouring the globe for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and its partners, this year found about 128 vascular plants and 44 species of fungi.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Plants Biology Kew Gardens Endangered species Guinea Environment Science Endangered habitats Conservation Cameroon Sierra Leone Laos Wildlife Source Type: news