Zombie fungi and ‘bloodstained’ orchids: Kew’s top 10 plant and fungal species named new to science in 2025 - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Kew scientists named 190 new plants and fungi described together with partners in 2025
- List includes a ‘zombie’ fungus from Brazil, a ‘bloodstained’ orchid from Ecuador, a strange snowdrop from the Balkans, and a fiery plant named after a Studio Ghibli film character
- Several of the new species are already under threat and at risk of extinction because of human activities
- New species highlight ongoing global loss of biodiversity and urgent need for conservation
Scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and their international partners, reveal today (8 January 2026) their pick of the top 10 plants and fungi named new to science in 2025.
From 'camouflaged’ plants to spider-infecting parasites, the annual list underscores how much of the natural world remains to be described, and highlights RBG Kew’s role as a conservation charity tackling the extinction crisis globally.
In the past 12 months, Kew’s taxonomists together with their collaborators have named 125 plants and 65 fungi internationally. Amongst these new species are a terrifying ‘zombie’ fungus that parasitises trapdoor spiders in Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest, a Critically Endangered ‘bloodstained’ orchid from Ecuador, and a strange new species of snowdrop described from North Macedonia and Kosovo.
Other highlights include a new subspecies of rock-like lithops, as well as a beautiful red Aphelandra named after a character in the classic Studio Ghibli animated film Howl’s Moving Castle. Six new orchids have been described from Indonesian New Guinea and Maluku, and in Inner Mongolia a new species of fungus was described from the roots of grass.
Posted On: 08/01/2026
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