The devil flower that survives without sunlight or leaves

Space · Published 21 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Imagine a plant that defies the fundamental rules of biology. Thismia daemona, recently discovered in Thailand, lacks chlorophyll and never performs photosynthesis. Instead, it spends nearly its entire life hidden underground, stealing nutrients from fungi to survive in a subterranean existence.

Discovered in Thong Pha Phum National Park by botanists from Chulalongkorn University and Prince of Songkla University, Thismia daemona is a member of the 'fairy lantern' genus. Unlike almost all other plants, it has no leaves and produces no energy from light. It lives as a mycoheterotroph, meaning it survives by parasitizing underground fungi to obtain its nutrients.

The discovery was particularly surprising because of the plant's location. While most Thismia species are found in humid lowland rainforests, this population was found at an elevation of nearly 1,000 meters in a seasonally dry, montane evergreen forest. This find extends the known geographic range of its section, Geomitra, further north than previously documented in Malaysia, Borneo, and Sumatra.

The plant's name, 'devil flower,' stems from its striking, almost supernatural appearance. The mostly black bloom features horn-like appendages rising from a dome-shaped miter, complemented by bright reddish-orange patches at the base that resemble glowing eyes. Despite this dramatic look, the species is extremely rare; scientists have identified only one population of fewer than 50 individuals inhabiting an area smaller than a football pitch.

The existence of Thismia daemona challenges our standard understanding of plant distribution and survival strategies. By moving into higher, drier elevations and relying on fungal networks rather than the sun, it reveals a complex, hidden layer of forest ecology where life thrives in total darkness.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The ancient survival strategy of a plant that can literally die and return
• The plants living on a single rainforest tree can weigh several tonnes
• The world's smallest waterlily was saved from extinction by a simple gardening trick
• Nature's most deceptive perfume is the scent of rotting meat
• Sundews are carnivorous plants that use sticky dew-like traps to digest their insect prey.
• The hidden coastal defenses built to repel a Nazi invasion
• Mastering the grammar of regret and impossible pasts
• The next frontier of space exploration hinges on engine innovation
• Deep-sea exploration reveals lakes hidden beneath the ocean floor
• Why the Sunda Megathrust poses a greater threat than the San Andreas
• How thermoelectric materials harvest energy from heat
• Why bigger rockets might not be our ticket to the stars

More in Space · Latest · A–Z · All topics