The researchers note that both new species grow in the Kalahari sands and only a small portion can be seen on the surface.
A wide variety of different trees grow on Earth, and some of them are so magnificent that they can easily be confused with something else. In a new study, scientists discovered two completely new “underground” tree species living in Angola, IFLScience writes.
Typically when we talk about trees we think of most of them as being on the surface. But life is completely different in the remote and nutrient-poor sands of Angola’s Kalahari: Scientists in the region have discovered two new tree species hidden almost entirely underground.
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One of the new species was named Cochlospermum adjanyae; It belongs to a genus consisting of approximately 16 different tree species. The vast majority of plants are hidden underground, but the key to finding them are the bright yellow flowers that appear above the surface, researchers say. But their bloom was noticed by scientists only once.
Note that this new tree species is named after Ajani Costa, an Angolan biologist and conservationist who won the UN Young World Champions Africa Prize in 2019.
The second species was called Baphia arenicola, which means “growing in the sand.” As with the first type, the flowers are the only parts visible on the surface, but they are mostly white with small yellow triangles at the base. Interestingly, although B. Arenicola is considered a tree, it actually belongs to the legume family.
Both new species were discovered by an honorary research fellow at the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) at Kew during research into plant diversity in Angola. Researchers note that local species diversity is unfortunately still poorly documented.
During the research, scientists discovered a total of 74 new plants, including two types of “underground” trees. The team also notes that “underground” trees may seem unusual, but many trees in this part of Angola have up to 90% of their body mass below the ground surface. The researchers suggest that this adaptation allows plants to survive in dry environments while also accessing small amounts of moisture stored underground.
Previously Focus He wrote that a forest was found that disappeared 22 million years ago: not only trees but also animals were preserved in it.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.