An intriguing botanical discovery has been made in a national park in western Thailand, where researchers have found a new plant species with unique characteristics. Named *Thismia daemona*, or popularly known as “devil’s flower”, the vegetable is notable for its dark appearance and peculiar way of life. The revelation was published in the scientific journal PhytoKeys on August 17, 2026, drawing attention to the region’s hidden biodiversity.
Intriguing appearance: why the name “devil’s flower”
*Thismia daemona* stands out for its predominantly black flowers. They display structures that resemble horns and orange spots, resembling eyes. This combination of colors and shapes directly contributes to the nickname “devil’s flower”, reflecting a mysterious and somewhat unusual appearance in the plant kingdom.
The unique environment and extreme rarity of Thismia daemona
This new species spends most of its existence hidden beneath the forest floor, a behavior that makes it particularly difficult to find and study. Its rarity is accentuated by the fact that it is known from a single population, made up of less than 50 individuals, which classifies it as an extremely vulnerable species.
The discovery was the result of surveys conducted by botanists from Chulalongkorn University and Prince of Songkla University. They located the plant in a seasonal evergreen montane forest, nearly a thousand meters above sea level, within Thong Pha Phum National Park. This type of environment is considered unusual for other already cataloged species of the genus *Thismia*.
Survival mechanism without sunlight
Unlike the vast majority of plants, *Thismia daemona* does not carry out photosynthesis to produce its own food. It belongs to a group of myco-heterotrophic plants, which obtain nutrients from fungi that, in turn, are associated with the roots of other plants. This strategy allows the “devil’s flower” to thrive in low-light environments and remain largely hidden.
- Predominantly black flowers.
- Unique shape with structures that resemble horns.
- Orange spots that give the impression of eyes.
- Habit of living much of its life cycle underground.
- Differentiated nutrition, without depending on photosynthesis.
The relevance of the discovery for Thai botany
The identification of *Thismia daemona* brings the total number of species of the genus *Thismia* recorded in Thailand to 16. This addition underscores the country’s rich, yet often unexplored, biodiversity and the ongoing need for research and conservation efforts. The presence of myco-heterotrophic plants, such as the “devil’s flower”, is an indication of healthy and complex forest ecosystems, where symbiotic relationships between fungi and plants are abundant.
Research like this is essential for the knowledge and protection of rare species, especially those that inhabit specific ecological niches and have such small populations. The location of *Thismia daemona* in a national park offers a layer of protection, but the fragility of its population requires constant monitoring and actions to ensure its long-term preservation.
