Botanists identify 33 global ‘dark spots’ with thousands of unknown plants

Espeletia barclayana, in Colombia’s montane tropical biome, is classified as ‘near threatened’. The ‘dark spots’ in the study are often biodiversity ‘hotspots’. Photograph: M Diazgranados/RBG Kew

Botanists have identified 33 “dark spots” around the world where thousands of plant species are probably waiting to be discovered, according to new research.

From a palm tree in Borneo that flowers underground to a Malagasy orchid that spends its life growing on other plants, researchers are still making dozens of new species discoveries every year.