As if woven from glass: a new type of orchid has been unveiled in Japan.

Botanists have named a flower with “glass-like” petals Spiranthes hachijoensis, in honor of the genus Spiranthes and Hachijo Island (Tokyo Prefecture), where it was discovered. The delicate white-pink petals of this previously unknown orchid are so fragile that they appear to be woven from glass. Sometimes, unfamiliar plants hide in places where researchers least expect to find them: in parks, gardens, and even pots on balconies. This was the case here as well. The discovery serves as an important reminder that unknown species often grow right under our noses, as noted by scientists in a report for the Journal of Plant Research.

Previously, three species of the Spiranthes genus had been identified in Japan: S. australis, S. sinensis, and S. hongkongensis. Orchids of this genus, due to their resemblance to wavy strands of hair, are commonly referred to as “ladies’ tresses.” Spiranthes feature a central stem surrounded by tiny bell-shaped flowers, which can be white, pink, purple, or yellow, according to CNN. Globally, there are about 50 species of Spiranthes, found across Eurasia, Australia, and the Americas. They typically thrive in regions with temperate or tropical climates. In Japan, spiranthes have been known for centuries. As Kenji Suecugu, a professor at Kobe University and the lead author of the study, explained, Spiranthes are the most well-known orchids in Japan, cultivated here for centuries. He added that flowers of this genus are mentioned in the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry, dated back to 759 AD.

The professor’s team was thrilled to discover a new species of spiranthes during field research. The color of Spiranthes hachijoensis ranges from purple-pink to white, with petal lengths measuring 3-4 mm. Morphologically, the species is closely related to S. hongkongensis, but some differences and genetic analysis confirm its uniqueness. In addition to Tokyo Prefecture, the researchers found these “glass” flowers in several other regions of Japan. Discovering new plant species in Japan is a rare event, as the country’s flora is meticulously documented and studied. Therefore, Professor Suecugu believes this news will spark interest in this unique flower, which is encountered much less frequently than other representatives of Spiranthes. By the way, there are about 28,000 species of orchids growing on our planet.