Posted on 12/05/2009 9:21:20 AM PST by JoeProBono
The world's smallest known orchid (pictured)—just over 2 millimeters (0.08 inch) across and nearly see-through—has been discovered nestled in the roots of another flower in Ecuador, scientists announced this week.
Lou Jost, an ecologist with the EcoMinga plant-conservation foundation, has studied the plants of the South American country's mountainous forests for 15 years.
Earlier this year he'd collected an orchid of a larger species to study in his greenhouse. "Several months later I saw this tiny plant," he said.
Ecuador's mountains are havens of biodiversity, where plants on one mountain may be entirely different from those on a neighboring peak.
In the region where the tiny orchid was found, Jost also recently discovered 28 new orchids in the Teagueia genus, a group previously thought to contain only 6 species. Ecuador as a whole is home to 4,000 known orchid species—a thousand of them discovered in the past 12 years alone.
The newfound orchid, part of the Platystele genus, hasn't yet had the type of scientific review that would lead to its official designation as a new species. But, Jost said, orchid expert Carl Luer, a researcher affiliated with the Missouri Botanical Garden, agrees that the plant is a unique species.
The bloom has, for now, no name. "It's just sitting here with lots of others that need to be described," Jost said. "These forests are just filled with new things."
That little thing is beautiful. It looks like ice.
I thought we were destroying the planet? Yet they’re finding new plants. Imagine that.
How does it taste?
They’re excellent as a garnish on Spotted Owl Caesar Salad.
“Spotted Owl Caesar Salad”
Great name for a rock group.
“How does it taste?”
You know.
I love orchids. Have grown them for years. Much hardier than I originally thought, after all they have survived my benign neglect.
Very beautiful!
Nightcrawlers and shaved cucumber... yum!
Cool, so we’ve found a new species ... now can we get rid of the polar bears (just to keep it “even”?)
What is the purpose for posting the trichoglottis photo? They aren’t small.
Am I missing something?
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