Scientists Identify 172 New Plant and Fungal Species in 2024, Many Already Threatened

The discoveries include unique orchids, ghost palms, and fungi, highlighting biodiversity loss and urgent conservation needs.

Researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and global collaborators named 149 plants and 23 fungi new to science in 2024, spanning regions from Indonesia to the UK.
Highlights include a ghost palm from Borneo, marzipan-scented lianas, and fungi with tooth-like structures, underscoring the diversity of life still being uncovered.
Several of the newly identified species, such as a Vietnamese liana and Indonesian orchids, are already critically endangered due to habitat destruction from human activities like cement manufacturing and farming.
The Afrothismiaceae family, newly classified in 2024, consists of rare African plants that survive entirely on fungal partnerships rather than photosynthesis.
Experts warn that biodiversity loss is accelerating, with many species potentially going extinct before discovery, and call for increased funding, training, and awareness to support conservation efforts.