Chinese scientists discovered a rare plant while conducting a survey in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwest China, which turned out to be a species in the Phanera genus that has remained elusive for decades.
The species is called Phanera lingyuenensis, endemic to Guangxi.
Phanera lingyuenensis. /CMG
Phanera lingyuenensis. /CMG
Phanera lingyuenensis. /CMG
Phanera lingyuenensis. /CMG
Historical records show the plant was once spotted in 1937 and that currently there are only four specimens of the species in the entire world: two in China; the other two in Harvard University Herbaria and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, respectively.
(Cover image via CMG)