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Scientists Discovered a Bizarre 'Devil Flower' That Doesn't Need Sunlight : ScienceAlert (opens in a new tab)

sciencealert.com · 2026-09-13

Short answerEvidenceSource

Short answer

Mostly not supported

Mostly not supported.

The claims we could check match the study, but some claims were not covered by the evidence reviewed.

  • 1 supported
  • 3 not covered

Checked against the study summary. The full text wasn't available, so some details couldn't be settled either way.

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1
2

NewsLink checks it

Mostly not supported

The one claim we could check holds up. One of four claims matches the study. This overall rating is based only on the claims we could check. Three claims the study doesn't address.

  • 1 supported
  • 3 not covered
Open claim evidence
3
Then inspect each claim

Evidence layer

Claim by claim

Each claim gets a verdict. Expand it to see the evidence directly below.

4 claims in this story

Showing all 4 claimsChoose a verdict to focus the list.

Claim 1 of 4Not coveredThe plant has no chlorophyll and cannot use sunlight for photosynthesis; instead, it obtains carbon and other nutrients through fungi in the soil, a life strategy called mycoheterotrophy.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The supplied abstract-level profile does not state that T. daemona lacks chlorophyll, cannot photosynthesize, or obtains carbon and nutrients through soil fungi via mycoheterotrophy. Those facts may be genus/background or full-text information, but they are not verifiable from the abstract-depth paper profile provided.

1

Study evidence

A new species, Thismia daemona, is described from Thailand based on morphological characters.

“A new species of Thismia from Thailand, T. daemona is described based on morphological characters”
Claim 2 of 4Not coveredThe species was discovered in May 2025 in Thong Pha Phum National Park in western Thailand at roughly 930 to 970 meters elevation, growing among fallen leaves and small bamboo.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedapproximately 930 to 970 meters

Why this verdict

The profile supports only that the new species is from Thailand. It does not provide the discovery date, Thong Pha Phum National Park locality, western Thailand framing, elevation range, or microhabitat details such as fallen leaves and small bamboo. These details are therefore not verifiable at abstract depth.

1

Study evidence

A new species, Thismia daemona, is described from Thailand based on morphological characters.

“A new species of Thismia from Thailand, T. daemona is described based on morphological characters”
Claim 3 of 4Not coveredThe researchers say the species is known from only one population with fewer than 50 plants in an area smaller than 0.05 square kilometers, and they provisionally assessed it as Critically Endangered under IUCN criteria.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedfewer than 50 plants; smaller than 0.05 square kilometers

Why this verdict

The abstract-level profile supports that the species was assessed as Critically Endangered according to IUCN Red List categories and criteria. However, it does not provide the asserted basis: one known population, fewer than 50 plants, area smaller than 0.05 km², or whether the assessment is only provisional rather than a formal Red List entry. Because the story’s quantitative conservation rationale is absent from the abstract profile, the full claim is not verifiable at this depth.

1

Study evidence

Thismia daemona is assessed as Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

“In addition, the new species is assessed as Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.”
Claim 4 of 4SupportedResearchers described a newly discovered plant species from Thailand, named Thismia daemona or the “devil flower,” in a study published in PhytoKeys.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The abstract-level profile supports the core claim that the paper describes a new plant species from Thailand named Thismia daemona. The extracted profile does not independently show the journal venue PhytoKeys, so that bibliographic detail is not verified by the quoted abstract evidence, but the scientific substance of the claim is supported.

1

Study evidence

A new species, Thismia daemona, is described from Thailand based on morphological characters.

“A new species of Thismia from Thailand, T. daemona is described based on morphological characters”
Then look for missing context

Context layer

What the story left out

Important study details the story did not include.

  • The new-species diagnosis is based on morphological characters examined from fresh and spirit-preserved material using stereo microscopy, with diagnostic traits including roots, flower structure, tepals, floral-tube ornamentation, trichomes, and stamen characters.

    The story notes the discovery and naming but does not report the paper’s primary evidentiary basis: morphological examination and diagnostic character comparison.

    From Morphological examination and taxonomic description

  • Multi-locus molecular phylogenetic analyses using nuclear SSU, ITS, LSU and mitochondrial atpA, matR markers support placement of T. daemona within Thismia sect. Geomitra and as sister to T. betung-kerihunensis.

    The story presentation does not mention the molecular phylogenetic component, marker set, sectional placement, or sister-species relationship, even though this is listed as a primary contribution in the profile.

    From multi-locus molecular phylogenetic analysis

2 things the story did carry across
  • Formal description and diagnosis of a new species, Thismia daemona, from Thailand.
  • The paper reports a Critically Endangered conservation assessment under IUCN Red List categories and criteria.
Then read the study layer

Study layer

Study at a glance

Scan the study first. Expand only the parts you want to inspect.

Pieces of work

3

Evidence read

study summary

Lead result

ex vivo animal

1Lead resultex vivo animalDescribe and diagnose a new plant species (Thismia daemona) from Thailand using morphological characters.Morphological examination and taxonomic descriptionExpand

In plain English

Formal morphological description and diagnosis of a new species, Thismia daemona, from Thailand based on examination of fresh and spirit specimens with stereo microscopy; diagnostic characters and conservation status are reported and species placement is supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses.

Key findings

  • A new species, Thismia daemona, is described from Thailand based on morphological characters.
  • Distinctive morphological diagnosis: coralliform roots; blackish flowers; reddish orange, fleshy outer tepals; inner tepals forming a mitre with three slender claviform appendages; floral tube ornamentation (irregular transverse bars lower half, fine reticulations upper half) with epidermal trichomes; translucent blue stamens with recurved apex.
“A new species of Thismia from Thailand, T. daemona is described based on morphological characters”
What this piece can’t prove

3 further details could not be confirmed from the summary.

2in silicoSupport the taxonomic placement of the new species within Thismia sect. Geomitra and its sister relationship using multi-locus molecular phylogenetic analyses.multi-locus molecular phylogenetic analysisExpand

In plain English

The authors performed multi-locus molecular phylogenetic analyses using three nuclear (SSU, ITS, LSU) and two mitochondrial (atpA, matR) markers; these analyses are reported to support placement of the new species within Thismia sect. Geomitra and indicate a sister relationship to T. betung-kerihunensis.

Key findings

  • Multi-locus phylogenetic analyses (SSU, ITS, LSU, atpA, matR) support placement of the new species within Thismia sect. Geomitra and recover it as sister to T. betung-kerihunensis.
“Phylogenetic analyses were conducted based on three nuclear (SSU, ITS, LSU) and two mitochondrial (atpA, matR) markers.”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Abstract does not specify taxon sampling breadth or whether analyses included sequences from broad representation of Thismia sect. Geomitra or closely related taxa.

1 further detail could not be confirmed from the summary.

3secondary dataAssess the conservation status of the new species as Critically Endangered using IUCN Red List criteria.IUCN Red List criteria applicationExpand

In plain English

The paper reports that the newly described species Thismia daemona is assessed as Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List categories and criteria (statement appears in the abstract).

Key findings

  • Thismia daemona is assessed as Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.
“In addition, the new species is assessed as Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.”
What this piece can’t prove

2 further details could not be confirmed from the summary.

Finally, the search trail

Method layer

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NewsLink checks the story. Tessa is where you inspect the paper, authors, evidence, and research context.

Papers considered

The selected paper, plus nearby candidates.

Europe PMC, Crossref · 15 candidate papers

Candidate

Figure 2 from: Seelanan T, Chantapram I, Taosiri N, Chuchuea C, Chantanaorrapint S (2026) Thismia daemona (Thismiaceae), a new species from Thailand supported by morphological and molecular evidence. PhytoKeys 278: 177-189. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.278.202868

2026 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)
Candidate

Thismia filiformis, a new species of Thismiaceae (formerly Burmanniaceae) from Thailand

Kew Bulletin · 2012 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)
Candidate

Thismia nigricans Chantanaorr. & Sridith, a new species of Thismiaceae from Southern Thailand

Phytotaxa · 2015 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)
Candidate

Thismia brunneomitroides (Thismiaceae), a new mycoheterotrophic species from southern Thailand

Phytotaxa · 2017 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)

And 9 more candidates considered.