Science is Fun Fridays!
The search for a long lost and rare species of orchid, Dendrobium azureum, led scientists to the summit of Mount Nok in Indonesia. It hadn't been seen in 80 years, and Dr. André Schuiteman has been on a mission to track down orchids.
But there was a bonus to be found as well. A brand new species!
Dendrobium lancilabium
Subspecies "wuryae," in honor of Hj. Wury Estu Handayani Ma'ruf Amin, for her contributions to the conservation of orchids in West Papau province.
Schuiteman and his team have named nine other orchid subspecies from Indo-China and Southeast Asia since December 2022.
"It is imperative now, more so than ever, that we do everything in our power to go out into the field with our partners and work out which species of plants and fungi we haven't given a scientific description yet," says Dr. Martin Cheek.
Both doctors work for the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.
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