Officially classified under the genus Thismia, these peculiar plants defy conventional botanic norms. Lacking chlorophyll and leaves, they derive sustenance entirely from fungi nestled in the soil. Their fleeting presence above ground, marked by small, lantern-shaped blooms, adds to their mystique, often lasting no more than a week.
One such elusive species, Thismia neptunis, languished in obscurity for 151 years after its initial discovery in Borneo. Rediscovered through a photograph captured by botanist Odoardo Beccari, it underscores the challenges of locating these botanical curiosities.
Despite their rarity and cryptic nature, a recent breakthrough has occurred in Malaysian rainforests: the unveiling of Thismia malayana, a newfound species. Its discovery was heralded by the appearance of cup-shaped flowers emerging from leaf litter and decaying logs. (...)