Rare plant Exacum loheri rediscovered in Masungi Georeserve after 130 years

A plant species, Exacum loheri, which was last seen in the 1890s, has been rediscovered at the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal after 130 years.

This rediscovery marks the first verified sighting of the species in over a century and includes the first photographs of the plant in its natural habitat.

The Exacum loheri is a rare mycoheterotrophic plant, meaning it lacks chlorophyll and relies on fungi for nutrients, a highly uncommon characteristic.

Scientists from the University of the Philippines Diliman and Philippine Normal University confirmed the find in a study published in the Philippine Journal of Science.

The Masungi Georeserve is currently identified as the sole location where this unique plant species can be found in the wild.