Botanists have identified 33 global “dark spots” where thousands of undiscovered plant species are likely to exist, according to new research.

These regions, scattered across the world, are considered hotspots for plant biodiversity, where scientists believe many plant species remain unidentified and are at risk of extinction.

Every year, researchers continue to discover new plant species, such as a palm tree in Borneo that flowers underground and a Malagasy orchid that grows on other plants.

However, with over 100,000 species still believed to be undiscovered, a new project led by Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens aims to direct botanists to areas where they should concentrate their efforts.

Scientists have identified key regions across Madagascar, Bolivia, and other countries to accelerate plant identification.

Their findings, published in the journal New Phytologist, build on previous research from Kew that suggested three-quarters of all yet-to-be-described plant species are likely at risk of extinction. These unknown species may hold the key to future drug discoveries, renewable fuels, and other innovations.

Professor Alexandre Antonelli, Kew’s director of science and senior author of the study, said the research aims to improve conservation efforts by pinpointing areas that need focused exploration. He warned that many plant species could become extinct before they are identified if the current slow pace of discovery continues.

“We are protecting 30% of the planet by this decade under current UN targets – but we don’t know which areas to protect unless we have the right information,” Antonelli said.

Most of the regions in need of further research are in Asia, including Sumatra, the eastern Himalayas, Assam in India, and Vietnam. Madagascar and South Africa’s Cape provinces were highlighted in Africa, while Colombia, Peru, and southeastern Brazil were identified in South America.

These dark spots often overlap with biodiversity “hotspots”—areas rich in plant life but under severe threat from habitat destruction.

Dr Samuel Pironon, a biology lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, an honorary research associate at Kew and a lead author of the paper, said: “All countries have agreed to preserve and restore biodiversity, including plant biodiversity. How do we do this if we don’t know what species we are talking about or what the biodiversity is and where we can restore it?”

In many of these countries, formal species identification efforts are limited, and the researchers hope their findings will spark collaborations between local communities and research institutions worldwide.

However, the scientists cautioned against the public collecting plant specimens due to strict international laws and the potential risk to species survival. Instead, they encouraged taking photos and sharing them on citizen science platforms to aid research efforts.

Pironon said: “It’s a great opportunity to strengthen partnerships between scientists and citizens, because platforms like iNaturalist rely on both. People take photos of things they think my be interesting to the rest of the world, and scientists are key because they help identify those species.”

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