11 new plant species recognized in PH in 2020

The Philippines has long been known as a center of biodiversity. Eleven new plant discoveries in the country were published in international scientific journals in 2020, adding to the extensive list of flora endemic to its shores.

- YVETTE TAN

The plants were discovered and/or published by members of the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative (PTI), a non-profit, non-government organization dedicated to autonomously advancing the discovery and documentation of the country’s plants and animals. Here they are:

Amorphophallus caudatus

Amorphophallus caudatus is the 17th species of its kind found in the Philippines. It was discovered in the lowland forests of the AbasigMatogdon-Mananap Natural Biotic Area (AMMNBA) in Camarines 1 Norte. According to an article from PTI, “Amorphophallus caudatus resembles Amorphophallus luzoniensis by exhibiting a verruculose spadix, meaning it appears covered with medium-sized growths.. Prior to the finding, A. luzoniensis and A. salmoneus were the only Philippine Amorphophallus species known to have verruculose spadices.” Less than 250 specimens were found in one area, making it a critically endangered species. The discovery was published in the Nordic Journal of Botany.

Amorphophallus longispathaceus

Amorphophallus longispathaceus samples have been found in places like the Abulug River in Cagayan province and Mt. Apo in Davao. Though discovered as far back as 1915, it wasn’t recognized until this year due to a lack of specimens. Aside from the mentioned places, it has also been observed in Isabela, Zambales, Samar, and other provinces across the archipelago. It is one of 17 species of Amorphophallus endemic to the Philippines. The findings were published in the Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography.

Begonia beijnenii