A plant considered one of the rarest in the world was discovered by chance in a picnic area at the heart of a popular tourist site in Southeast Asia.
The unusual finding was reported in a study published in a scientific journal.
The plant, known as Thismia selangorensis and belonging to a group of plants commonly referred to as fairy lanterns, was discovered during field photography near a major capital city.
It is a plant that grows to only about ten centimeters in height, and according to researchers fewer than 20 individual specimens are currently known worldwide.
The species is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Its habitat covers a very limited area of approximately four square kilometers within a forest park that has been known for decades as a popular destination for camping, hiking trails, river activities, and picnic areas in the heart of dense rainforest.
The plant was discovered growing among dry leaves on the roots of a tree in an active picnic area.
Its umbrella shaped flowers are characterized by three thin extensions, with colors ranging from peach to pink.
Fairy lanterns are considered among the strangest types of plants in the world.
They are almost invisible, hidden beneath layers of vegetation, and they do not perform photosynthesis. Instead, they feed on fungi.
Their delicate bell shaped flowers appear only for a very short period of time, a trait that gave them their poetic name.
Out of approximately 120 known species in this group, most live in tropical regions, and some are known to science only from their initial discovery, sometimes from a single specimen.
According to the lead researcher, the discovery demonstrates that even areas under intensive human use can yield significant scientific findings.
However, it is also warned that protecting Thismia selangorensis presents a real challenge, as the tiny plants can easily be trampled by visitors who are unaware of their existence.