Rare Moraea anastasia Discovered in Stellenbosch Post Pine Clearing

[{"selector":"#anim-bf29f01b-4609-4634-bee5-41a1a72c0a89","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0110fb8-cb2e-4d97-a377-09aa16fea195","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.55696%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-949e82ea-c8fd-425f-9c20-d1b65ffef69e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d3a072b-50ce-4b40-88a5-11c102ecd553","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.3301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Rare Moraea anastasia Discovered in Stellenbosch Post Pine Clearing Govind Tekale

A critically endangered plant, Moraea anastasia, was unexpectedly found after pine trees were felled at a Stellenbosch plantation.

[{"selector":"#anim-0aa43fea-0081-408e-8d85-60e5cef64299","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fdd237c6-caf0-4288-837f-eb143fe57056","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f434106c-7ad9-4d5f-9221-6fea90cfd529","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-471f2935-0d5b-40ca-84ab-1fc7a8fd9d01","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55a5c747-adf3-4cab-aea2-b73695eb4430","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: John R (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Hidden beneath invasive pines for decades, this mysterious flowering species waited patiently for sunlight to finally reach the soil.

[{"selector":"#anim-beed86dc-1272-45f7-8225-2e19e78456da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0a13f79-d186-4afe-ae82-9e4089abe1db","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 194.01709%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0732f5f-f5c0-462e-968c-34916bbb559f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-39f6647a-7caa-4832-8851-9bc6a20fbc3e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -111.1955%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c21cf74d-66f4-4ced-817b-d15c240d41cf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credit: Sam Sheline (PDM 1.0)

The remarkable plant burst into bloom with striking colors and unusual structures that left local botanists scrambling to document its features.

[{"selector":"#anim-93093c8c-e425-4a2a-86ec-cc895a709816","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3419f2d5-8c1b-4a2f-ae4e-a86092b64c0b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.58885%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7789177-2467-473f-8979-a4e2ccaa2e25","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b035231-9646-4ae7-a9f0-d80fff163b58","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.60759%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b33c2dd1-87a3-42b8-a895-deb1b00a9aad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Karon Elliott Edleson (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Seeds from this fragile botanical treasure are being carefully collected by scientists racing against time to ensure its survival.

[{"selector":"#anim-02b76798-eefb-43cd-8db3-376f4d573976","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69b48166-7057-4497-a3fb-b3583abfa168","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 194.01709%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b043eb34-4ace-4ee3-a42e-b7a3244c1394","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62f2fb6f-42b7-4ccd-a9a6-f03b0c7dd23e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a93ed39-3890-42d0-9595-19a4d9429fe0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: ThisIsEngineering (Pexels)

Environmental groups have begun lobbying for immediate protected status for the land where this rare Moraea species clings to existence.

[{"selector":"#anim-2f6e7698-5124-465a-8139-d58f8a0c5f89","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8004990-0792-41a4-b282-accee4ac2f0b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3cfec02-2346-47f3-a5d2-1980986384d9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b9db3f8-f3dd-4ea9-9227-470529c7dbd0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8764cacc-0cc7-4f43-87c0-1041b9fcf546","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credit: G. Peeples/USFWS (PDM 1.0)

Research teams were quickly assembled to study the plant's lifecycle, with initial findings suggesting it might only flower once every several years.

[{"selector":"#anim-2b054c39-4ea1-403a-882f-dd7c0e5d2ec2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-57b4a577-c106-4541-8355-ca0cc7792da8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.72400%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbb1c88c-8d01-4689-8122-f567c4c2d3f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d45953cd-7384-4e82-92df-d228fc5cce6b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb684e31-77c3-46fb-926b-ac4c586c970d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credit: X. Fonseca/CIMMYT (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Soil samples around the discovery site revealed dormant seeds, hinting at the possibility of coaxing more specimens to life under controlled conditions.

[{"selector":"#anim-2d6b8df4-f539-45f3-87c6-84e0fc15f297","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ae65c1c-5c6f-4a8f-9c91-a72bbd946ffd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2359e38d-4536-48fb-a152-1f8d7261490d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ce62596-ec61-472c-bddf-6f19f9986025","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-633bf3ef-e8b6-47e5-bc73-94e3494741e9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Alandmanson (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The accidental finding raises questions about what other botanical gems might be sleeping beneath commercial forestry operations across South Africa.

[{"selector":"#anim-af7e7e3f-daa1-40a8-92d2-e7812588ef91","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5165246a-d3b2-45d1-a038-1bf62862f2a4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.36915%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8d1060d-d71f-4702-9886-c78c938d1ce8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-021e330a-d048-4f54-a837-967a927c6f12","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-43b2c9f4-d08b-4f32-be26-af5249a81978","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Malavi Arachchi Gamage Badrajith Kumara (CC BY-SA 4.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-d3176c31-aac3-403c-a0e3-791ed468c35b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f6ba88aa-9084-464f-b776-5d68349f60af","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a84e1c5-3f6d-4c9d-b91a-ee9752a2cbe6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-92aac84c-5c19-4bfb-8989-241015df153d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4be0cd72-ba5f-4877-9f03-7bb30d689e95","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.23810%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Sapria himalayana in Arunachal: 21 Blooms After 85 Years Learn more