Outline:
Almost 200 newplantsand fungi were identified as new to science in the previous year, with conservationists expressing concern that numerous species are already “at risk of extinction”.
On 8 January, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG) in London, together with its global collaborators, has announced its top 10 species that were identified in 2025. The list is intended to demonstrate how much of the natural world is still without a name.
Identifying new plant and fungal species is crucial at a moment when the effects of biodiversity loss and climate change are increasing rapidly before us,” says Dr Martin Cheek, senior research leader in RGB Kew’s Africa team. “It is challenging to safeguard what we are unaware of, do not comprehend, and lack a scientific name for.
Dr. Cheek mentions that wherever his group examined, human actions are “diminishing nature to the verge of extinction.” He contends that not providing support for taxonomy (known as categorizing species), we face the danger of breaking down the systems that “support our existence on Earth.”
Here are 10 of the most notable plants and fungi identified by researchers in 2025.
The bloodstained orchid
Telipogon cruentilabrum is a newly discovered orchid species located in the high Andean forests of Cotopaxi, Ecuador. It gets its name from the blood-stained lip of the blossom, and it typically grows on tree daisies, usually between 1.5 to 3 meters above the ground.
Its blossoms, featuring yellow and red-veined patterns, imitate female flies to lure male flies for pollination. Nevertheless, over half of this species’ habitat has already been destroyed, with ongoing deforestation caused by mining and farming activities.
RBG mentions that there are approximately 250 recognized species of Telipohon globally, and this specific type is among four new plants identified in 2025.
“They are well-known for being challenging to grow, and only certain types can be recognized when they are in bloom,” the organization adds.
‘Grusome’ spider-killing fungus
The latest addition to the fungal kingdom could give you a chill. Purpureocillium atlanticum, discovered in the Atlanticrainforest from Brazil, is part of a category of entomopathogenic fungi that infect other creatures.
Also known as zombie fungus, this unsettling species attacks trapdoor spiders that reside beneath the forest floor in their burrows, enveloping the spider almost entirely with a delicate network of mycelium.
From the dead body, a reproductive structure grows, goes through the trapdoor opening, and is positioned above the ground to disperse its spores and keep the process going.
The fire demon flower
Easily identified by its vibrant orange-red and yellow blossoms, this three-meter-tall shrub found in the forest was named following Calcifer, the fire spirit from the 2004 movie Howl’s Moving Castle.
Researchers believe that Aphelandra calciferi holds significant potential as a greenhouse decorative plant due to its eye-catching look.
It is one of two newly discovered species from Peru featured in a research paper authored by the Peruvian-UK collaboration of Villanueva-Espinoza and John Wood, who serves as an honorary research fellow with Kew’s Americas team.
Christmas palm
Locally referred to as Amuring, this impressive palm tree with red fruits can reach a height of 15 meters. It is now scientifically known as Adonidia zibabaoa, and it thrives on limestone ridges in a limited region of Samar Island, which is frequently affected by typhoons. Samar Island is part of the Visayas region in the Philippines. The species name originates from an older term used for Samar.
RBG mentioned that classifying it as a previously unknown species was “difficult” since it was not clear which genus the tree belonged to. Nevertheless, DNA testing verified its classification within the Adonidia genus.
Only two other species are recognized within the genus, such as the Christmas palm, one of the most commonly grown tropical ornamental plants globally.
‘Living stone’
Known as Lithops gracilidelineata subsp. Mopane, this plant is part of a collection of species recognized for their rock-like mimicry.
Although they might appear to be just a simple stone at first sight, lithops are actually succulent plants that have a single pair of leaves and a flower resembling a daisy.
There are 38 recognized species that are only found in dry areas of Namibia and South Africa, although certain ones have also been discovered in Botswana. Nevertheless, the newly identified ‘mopane lithops’ is distinct from the rest because it thrives in a region with more rainfall, specifically within ‘mopane’ woodlands. Additionally, it features a smooth, pale grey leaf surface instead of cream or reddish pink.
Lithops are commonly grown as indoor plants, yet the unlawful harvesting from their natural habitat to meet this demand is pushing the species toward extinction. Some species have already been classified as Endangered or Vulnerable by theIUCN.
A critically endangered snowdrop
This lovely flower might resemble the snowdrops commonly found throughout the UK. However, it did not seem to correspond to any recognized species when initially spotted by snowdrop lover Ian McEnery.
Scientists have later identified its origin as the sub-alpine meadows of Mount Korab in northern Macedonia and Kosovo. It is now officially called Galanthus subalpinus, a small snowdrop that has already been categorized as Critically Endangered because of pressures from being collected for the horticultural industry.
Excessive grazing and wildfires are other elements contributing to the endangerment of this species.
Caterpillar orchid
The caterpillar orchid (Dendrobium eruciforme) is called this name because the small, crawling plants look like a group of caterpillars resting on a tree trunk.
This is the tiniest among six newly discovered species released by Indonesian researchers last year.
Five of the findings stem from Kew’s collaboration with local partners to determine the most critical regions for preservation in Indonesian New Guinea.
Fungus from grass roots
A significant number of fungi that scientists have not yet identified are likely to be those that are difficult for the human eye to detect. Magnaporthiopsis stipae, which was obtained from the roots of a grass last year, serves as an excellent example.
This is one of 24 newly discovered species, 11 new genera, and one new family that have been introduced to science in a research focusing on an order of fungi, which are primarily endophytes and causes of plant diseases.
Banana/Guava-tasting tree fruit
Harvesting fruit from this 18-metre-high tree originating from Papua New Guinea is quite straightforward. The fruits grow on branches that extend from the trunk and lie along the ground for as far as seven metres, resulting in white blossoms.
Experts claim the fruit has a flavor combining a banana and guava, along with a eucalyptus finish. The species, called Eugenia venteri, is believed to have developed to have its flowers pollinated and seeds spread by large ground rats in the region.
Detaroid legume tree
Saving the most significant for last, this threatened tree is located in the Cameroon rainforest – featuring a trunk width of 66 centimetres. Researchers have approximately estimated that the Plagiosiphon intermedium weighs 5,000 kg.
It is a detarioid legume (part of the bean family) that marks the initial species to be included in the Plagiosiphon genus, which had only five species for almost 80 years.
Symbiotic legume trees grow in clusters and rely on fungi that establish mutualistic connections with their roots. The newly discovered species is found in just two places, both located in Ngovayang, one of Cameroon’s most significant areas for rare plant life, yet it remains without protection.