Kew names top plant and fungal species new to science in 2025
Scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and its international partners have listed their top plants and fungi named new to science in 2025.
Over the last year, Kew’s taxonomists and its collaborators have named 125 plants and 65 fungi internationally.
From the ‘zombie’ fungus that parasitises trapdoor spiders in Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest, an endangered orchid from Ecuador and a new species of snowdrop from North Macedonia and Kosovo.
Dr Martin Cheek, senior research leader in Kew’s Africa team explains why it is important to highlight new plant and fungal species:
“It is essential at a time when the impacts of biodiversity loss and climate change accelerate before our eyes: it is difficult to protect what we do not know, understand and have a scientific name for. Each identification of a new species to science helps us better understand ecosystems. Without this foundational knowledge, species conservation efforts fail.“
The full list can be found here.