Scientists have identified a “zombie fungus” that traps and consumes spiders, a shrub inspired by a Studio Ghibli film, and a snowdrop long overlooked in UK gardens among the 10 “weird and wonderful” new plant and fungi species named in 2025. The list, compiled by researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG), Kew, and their international partners, highlights both the wonder of biodiversity and the urgent need for conservation as species face extinction.
New Species Discovered in 2025
The list of 10 new species was compiled after scientists named 125 new plants last year. Among the discoveries is a fruit from Papua New Guinea that tastes like a blend of banana and guava, and an elegant Christmas palm from the Philippines.
The “zombie fungus,” Purpureocillium atlanticum, infects trapdoor spiders in Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest. It envelops the spider in white threads before emerging from the corpse through the trapdoor, releasing spores to continue the cycle. Researchers used portable genome technology to decode the fungus’s genetic blueprint in the field.
A striking, orange-red shrub from Peru, Aphelandra calciferi, was named after Calcifer, the fire demon from the 2004 Studio Ghibli film, “Howl’s Moving Castle.” Scientists believe this shrub has potential as an ornamental plant.
Threats to Biodiversity
Researchers estimate there are as many as 100,000 plant species and 2-3 million species of fungi yet to be discovered. However, they caution that the pace of discovery is hampered by the rapid destruction of habitats.
As many as three-in-four undescribed plant species are already threatened with extinction due to farming, building, mining, pollution, and the climate crisis. Dr. Martin Cheek, at RBG in Kew, stated, “Wherever we look, human activities are eroding nature to the point of extinction, and we simply cannot keep up with the pace of destruction.”
Describing new species is crucial for conservation efforts, as it’s difficult to protect what isn’t known and scientifically named. Approximately 40% of already named plant species are also threatened with extinction.
A bloodstained orchid discovered in the high Andes forests of Ecuador mimics female flies to attract male pollinators. However, more than half of its habitat has been destroyed by mining and agriculture, placing the plant in danger.
Overlooked and Rediscovered Species
Sometimes, new species are found not through exploration, but through re-examination. A snowdrop, widely grown in the UK, was found not to match any known species. Researchers traced its origin to the subalpine grasslands of Mount Korab, straddling North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo. The tiny snowdrop, Galanthus subalpinus, is critically endangered due to its small population size, collection for horticulture, overgrazing, and fires.
Another new species, Eugenia venteri, is an 18-metre-tall tree from Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, producing banana and guava-flavored fruits with a eucalyptus aftertaste. The fruit grows on whip-like stems that reach the ground, pollinated by giant ground rats.
A red-fruited palm from the Philippines, Adonidia zibabaoa, is a close relative of the Christmas palm and is already popular among palm enthusiasts.
Scientists are working with partners to protect these newly discovered species through habitat conservation and seed banking at institutions like Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank.
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