The 33 "dark spots" in the world where plants we have never seen grow

There would be over 100,000 species still not catalogued.Researchers' race to protect them before they become extinct

ROME – In the world there are still – only – 33 uncontaminated botanical paradises, “dark spots” where probably thousands of plant species are just waiting to be discovered.A new project led by the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England, esteem that there are still 100,000 species of plants that have never been observed, most of which are at risk of extinction.

From a Bornean palm that blooms underground to a Malagasy orchid that lives by growing on other plants, researchers continue to discover dozens of new species every year.Many are "holed up" in still hidden places on the planet, from Madagascar to Bolivia.The study, published in the journal New Phytologist, is based on analysis by Kew researchers last year.

Most regions are located in Asia, which has 22 areas to explore, including the island of Sumatra, the eastern Himalayas, Assam in India and Vietnam.In Africa, the provinces of Madagascar and the Cape in South Africa were identified, while Colombia, Peru and southeastern Brazil were highlighted in South America.Almost all the areas overlap with areas that have already been identified as biodiversity "hotspots", i.e. areas of the planet rich in life but threatened by so-called progress.