A newly discovered and extremely rare plant species has been found in a popular forest park and picnic spot in Malaysia, with scientists warning that—with less than 20 known species—it is already critically endangered .

Officially named Thismia selangorensis , the first of the new 'fairy lantern' plant species was discovered hidden away in a tree hole on a riverbank in Taman Eko Rimba Sungai Chongkak, Selangor, Malaysia.

Given the tiny numbers of the plants found the species has been classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

The plant is now part of the Thismia genus—a group of plants that are notable for not using sunlight and photosynthesis for energy production, but instead rely on a parasitic relationship

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