Researchers from Poland and Colombia have discovered a new species of orchid whose flower seems to have features more suitable for Halloween than for spring festivals.
On a small patch of land located between the departments of Nariño and Putumayo in southern Colombia grows a population of orchids that has never been seen before.
While this new species can be identified through its reddish to dark maroon bloom, its most distinguishable trait is the devil-shaped heart found in the middle of its flower. This feature is what earned it the name "Telipogon diabolicus" from its discoverers.
Prof. Dariusz Szlachetko and Marta Kolanowska from the University of Gdansk in Poland worked together with Ramiro Medina Trejo in Colombia to identify this new orchid species. Based on their observations, the plant is capable of growing to about 5.5 to 9 centimeters (2.2 to 3.5 inches) long.
Aside from its demon-like heart, the T. diabolicus also has other physical traits that are not seen on other orchids endemic to Colombia. One of these is the petals of its flower, which appear to be characteristically clawed.
So far, the only known habitat for this devilish-looking orchid is in the dwarf montane forest located between the two southern Colombian departments.
Szlachetko and his colleagues were able to find 30 individual orchids in the area, but only a number of them can be considered flowering adults. This is why the researchers opted to include the species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) list of critically endangered organisms.
Experts believe that the T. diabolicus' distinct coloring could be a direct result of natural selection. Plants typically undergo mutations that allow them to develop certain patterns. These patterns are then reinforced over time and they become more common to the species. Those that were able to obtain the patterns eventually outlive those that weren't able to do so.
The T. diabolicus may have developed its sinister-looking heart to attract pollinating orchid bees. Orchids have been known to make themselves more appealing to insects through evolution. It's likely that the T. diabolicus turned their hearts red to fool male bees into thinking that they are females looking for a mate.
Szlachetko and his colleagues pointed out that the T. diabolicus is just one of the 3,600 species of orchids and 250 genera included in the latest record of plants in Colombia.
However, they believe that there are still hundreds of other orchid species that have yet to be discovered in the region. In 2015 alone, researchers identified more than 20 novel orchids based on materials collected in the South American nation.
The findings of the University of Gdansk-led study are featured in the journal PhytoKeys.
