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A rare orchid, Gastrodia queenslandica, has been observed flowering in Singapore for the first time since the early 1900s! This unusual orchid is a "ghost plant" that lives and grows underground, feeding off fungi instead of producing food through photosynthesis, and only emerges briefly to flower and fruit. The species was until now thought to exist only in Australia, and historical specimens collected from Singapore by botanist Henry Ridley were misidentified for over a century. The discovery of small populations in Singapore's Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Nee Soon freshwater swamp forests, as well as in Thailand, reveals this species has a much wider distribution than previously known.

Researchers resolved a long-standing confusion surrounding the identity of Hoya macrophylla, tracing the issue to an early botanical illustration that mistakenly combined features of two different species. Through re-examining historical drawings, type specimens and herbarium material from multiple global collections, the study clarified which traits truly belong to H. macrophylla and distinguished it from H. latifolia. Their findings underscore the importance of revisiting historical sources with modern taxonomic standards, ensuring that future studies are based on accurate identifications and reliable taxonomic literature.

Dipterocarp trees are dominant in the rainforests across the Sunda region, including Singapore. These towering trees play a key role in shaping the forest environment. Researchers document the complex structure of these forests and the ways dipterocarp trees support plant regeneration and wildlife. This ecosystem faces ongoing pressures from logging, land conversion, and climate change, highlighting the need for active management and strong conservation efforts.

As part of ongoing efforts to document non-native plants that have become established in Singapore, researchers have recently added five new records of casually occurring or naturalised plants to the nation’s official plant list. The team also discusses how these plants may have arrived and provides descriptions based on plant samples collected locally and stored at the Singapore Botanic Gardens Herbarium.

A new ginger species, Boesenbergia monophylla, has been discovered in Central Vietnam's Quang Ngai Province. It is distinctive for being the only single-leafed (monophyllous) species among its relatives in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The species differs from another single-leafed ispecies, B.prainiana, by its dark green velvety leaves, long petioles, generally concealed inflorescence, and pale-yellow flowers with red-pink banding on the labellum. This discovery brings Vietnam's total Boesenbergia species count to seven.

Large plant genera often conceal cryptic diversity and unresolved taxonomies. A recent study by the National Parks Board examines various approaches to tackling taxonomic challenges in large plant genera in Annonaceae and Rubiaceae families. The research recommends shifting away from the old-fashioned, individualistic style of plant taxonomic research and embracing global collaboration, supported by modern tools such as molecular data, morphological analysis, and updated genus concepts. Prioritising teamwork and global cooperation, especially with local botanists in biodiversity hotspots, offers greater potential for meaningful taxonomic revisions.