Our Planet Climate and Geopolitics
Scientists from Kew and elsewhere have discovered 149 new plants and 23 new fungi in 2024, some from Colombia, some from Borneo, some from Tunbridge Wells.
The Indonesian wee mukup ghost palm has long been known to local communities but has had to wait more than 90 years for a scientific name – Plectocomiopsis hantu – which was assigned this year. Colombia's black-souled Aphelandra is a new species of deciduous shrub.
Virectaria stellata is a star-shaped herb found in Guinea in West Africa. And the Phellodon castaneoleucus is a new toothy toadstool discovered in woods in Kent. All were previously unknown to science. Almost all are endangered.
The wee mukup is found only in three places in or near protected rainforest.
