Scientists Discover a New ‘Devil Flower’ That Looks Like a Tiny Demon
A recently discovered plant in Thailand’s Thong Pha Phum National Park, aptly named the “Devil Flower,” certainly lives up to its ominous title. Formally classified as Thismia daemona, this bizarre species resembles a small, bug-like figure standing on hind legs, giving it a distinctly unsettling appearance.
Found by researchers from Chulalongkorn University and Prince of Songkla University, the plant’s striking features include pitch-black flesh adorned with horns resembling a demon’s head. This eerie creation is topped with a glowing reddish-orange collar, contributing to its menacing look, as if it’s poised to whisper malice in your ear.
Lacking chlorophyll, the Devil Flower doesn’t photosynthesize; instead, it feeds on underground fungal networks. Its discovery in a dry patch of forest is surprising, as its genus, Geomitra, typically thrives in the humid lowland forests of Malaysia, Borneo, and Sumatra. This finding extends its known range further north than previously documented.
Unfortunately, the Devil Flower is already on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 50 individual plants identified in an area smaller than a football field within a heavily trafficked national park. Researchers have labeled it as Critically Endangered, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect this unique species from disappearing entirely.
