A new plant species, 'Afrothismia lovettii', has been officially confirmed as critically endangered, almost three decades after its discovery. Professor Jon Lovett, a faculty member at the University of Leeds, first spotted the mycotroph in 1997 while living in a tent in Tanzania's tropical forests for an environmental survey.
The plant, which feeds on fungi, was confirmed as new to science in June after nearly 30 years of research by Dr Martin Cheek at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. 'Afrothismia lovettii' is described as being about the size of a penny, with a translucent, golden yellow base and white antennae.
This is the eighth plant species to be named after Professor Lovett, recognising his botanical research in eastern Tanzania since 1979. His work has also contributed to the area being recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot.