New flower species found in Japan: glass orchid

Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 3/17/23; Kelly Ani, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

A new species of orchid has been discovered in Japan, and its petals look like they’re spun from glass

In a past life, I was a Japanese flower

Sometimes newfound flower species are lurking where scientists least expect to see them — in city parks, backyard gardens, and even in planters on apartment balconies.

That’s where researchers in Japan recently identified a new species of orchid, its pink-and-white blooms so delicate and fragile they look like they were spun from glass.

The newly described flower is a neighbor to populations of a related orchid species common in Japan that it closely resembles. Its discovery is an important reminder that unknown species are often living right under our noses, scientists reported Friday in the Journal of Plant Research.

“The incredible diversity of the orchid family, Orchidaceae, is truly astonishing, and new discoveries like this Spiranthes reinforce the urgency to study and protect these botanical gems,” Justin Kondrat, lead horticulturist for the Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection, told CNN in an email.

Kondrat was not involved in the research. Orchids in this genus — Spiranthes — are called “ladies’ tresses” for their resemblance to wavy locks of hair. Spiranthes have a central stem, around which grow an ascending spiral of tiny, bell-shaped flowers that can be white, pink, purple, or yellow.

There are about 50 species of Spiranthes found in Eurasia, Australia, and the Americas, typically in temperate or tropical regions, and these flowers have been known in Japan for hundreds of years, according to the study.

A new species of orchid has been discovered in Japan, and its petals look like they’re spun from glass (© Provided by CNN via MSN.com). We're dubbing it the "glass orchid."

Colors of the floral newcomer's blooms vary "from purple-pink to white," researchers said.

• Populations of the floral newcomer were discovered in Tokyo prefecture near Hachijo Island, inspiring the species name Spiranthes hachijoensis. - Masayuki Ishibashi 

Before this discovery, three species of Spiranthes orchids were found in Japan: S. australis, S. sinensis, and S. hongkongensis, and only S. australis was thought to grow on the Japanese mainland.

However, during a survey on mainland Japan over a decade ago, lead study author Prof. Kenji Suetsugu, in Kobe University’s Division of Biodiversity, Ecology, and Speciation, found something unusual: flowers presumed to be S. australis but with smooth stems. (S. australis typically has hairy stems). More

Forgotten Genius: Black scientist Percy Julian

NOVA (PBS); CC Liu, Crystal Quintero, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit

The Man Who Made "the [Birth Control] Pill" Possible - Chemist Dr. Percy Lovan Julian

Percy Lavon Julian (April 11, 1899-April 19, 1975) was an African American research chemist and a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants (Darlene R. Stille, Percy Lavon Julian: Pioneering Chemist).

I really like science!

He was the first person to synthesize the natural product physostigmine and was a pioneer in the industrial large-scale chemical synthesis of the human hormones progesterone and testosterone from plant sterols such as stigmasterol and sitosterol.

His work laid the foundation for the steroid drug industry's production of cortisone, other corticosteroids, and birth control pills [WGBH-PBS, People and Discoveries: Percy Julian, 1899-1975, WGBH-PBS, 1998; Giants of the Past: Percy Lavon Julian (1899-1975). A Forgotten Pioneer in Soy," USDA; "Lipid Library: Percy Lavon Julian (1899-1975)"].

Nik, did you realize blacks could be geniuses, too? - Of course, Al . Who do you think...

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The future black British Princess Markles

Julian later started his own company to synthesize steroid intermediates from the wild Mexican yam.

His work helped greatly reduce the cost of steroid intermediates to large multinational pharmaceutical companies, helping to significantly expand the use of several important drugs (NOVA: Forgotten Genius, NOVA (TV series), W. M. Cobb, "Medical History: Percy Lavon Julian, Ph.D., Sc.D., LL.D., L.H.H.D., 1899– ," Journal of the National Medical Association, March 1971; Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 143-150, PMC).

"Let's look in this closet." Aha! The Pill!

Julian received more than 130 chemical patents. He was one of the first African Americans to receive a doctorate in chemistry.

He was the first African-American chemist inducted into the National Academy of Sciences, and the second African-American scientist inducted (behind David Blackwell) from any field (ibid.) More

Indoor Gardener Magazine

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Open publication - Free publishing - More indoor plants

A Homegrown Revolution

Path to Freedom presents "A Homegrown Revolution," a collection of clips featuring their urban homestead and farm. The focus is on the need for radical action -- growing food in the city!

This short, self-produced music video was shown at Peter Seller's Cultural Art's class at UCLA followed by a short presentation by urban farmer Jules Dervaes, the founder of Path to Freedom. The focus of the class was on the art of slow food. Among other guests invited were Michael Pollan, Alice Waters, and Eric Schlosser.

Like the victory gardens of yesteryear, start your own homegrown revolution! Grow your food in your own yard. For more information visit the urban homesteaders at PathtoFreedom.com. Read the online journal urbanhomestead.org/journal. Since the early 1980's the Dervaes family has successfully transformed their ordinary city lot into a self sufficient urban homestead.