'Lost' flowers bloom in Masungi after over 130 years

MANILA, Philippines — A flower species thought to be lost in history is blooming once more in Rizal, as reported by Masungi Georeserve.

The conservation area shared on its social media accounts last September 13, Sunday, that it found several Philippine endemic Exacum loheri plants blooming along one of its trails.

Exacum loheri is an achlorophyllous (lacks chlorophyll) and mycoheterotrophic (relies on fungi in the soul for nutrients instead of photosynthesis) plant first collected by Swiss botanist August Loher in Rizal in 1895.

The plant was thought to be lost in time, only existing in historical collections from over a century ago until it was rediscovered last year during a snail reconnaissance study in Masungi's limestone forests.

Researchers photographed the small bluish-purple flower, making it the first verified record of Exacum loheri in more than 130 years.

"Considering its restricted distribution, this species is presumed to be extremely rare and probably threatened at present," researchers said at the time.

More Exacum loheri have now been found along Masungi's Discovery Trail a year from that discovery, giving hope that the lost species can continue to thrive anew.

"A reminder that even within a familiar landscape, there can still be species waiting to be noticed, studied, and protected," Masungi said. "Sometimes, conservation means making sure that a species once lost to science has a place to bloom again."

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