Japanese researchers have recently discovered a new species of orchid, featuring delicate pink and white petals that appear “as if woven from glass.”
Spiranthes hachijoensis has petals that look like glass. (Photo: Kenji Suetsugu).
The discovery of a new plant species in Japan—a country with a long and rich history of cultivation—is extremely rare. However, researchers have recently identified a new type of orchid in the most common places, as reported by The Guardian.
Spiranthes hachijoensis—with its glass-like pale pink petals—can be found in grassy areas, parks, and even in private gardens and on balconies. As of now, this species does not yet have an official name. This is because it was previously believed that all Spiranthes on the Japanese mainland belonged to a single species, whereas in reality, there are two distinct species.
Spiranthes australis is the most familiar orchid species in Japan. During field research, Professor Kenji Suetsugu from Kobe University observed that the stems of some common Spiranthes found in gardens were hairless, while most other species were hairy.
In fact, there are two species of Spiranthes on the Japanese mainland. (Photo: Kenji Suetsugu).
After thorough research over several years, Suetsugu and his colleagues discovered that hachijoensis is a new species, distinct from its relative australis, although they share some similarities. Spiranthes hachijoensis typically grows alongside Spiranthes australis but blooms about a month earlier.
According to CNN, the research indicates that the color of Spiranthes hachijoensis varies from “lavender pink to white,” with petals measuring 3-4 mm in length.
“The discovery of new species in common locations is a testament to the need for continuous research, even in seemingly unremarkable environments. This also emphasizes the necessity for genetic and taxonomic studies to accurately assess species diversity,” Suetsugu added.
The new discovery has been published in the Journal of Plant Research.
