Gastrodia agnicellus, one of 156 plants and fungal species named by Kew scientists and their partners around the world in 2020, has been crowned ‘the ugliest orchid in the world’. ‘The 11-mm flowers of this orchid are small, brown and rather ugly,’ Kew said in its list of the top 10 discoveries of the year. The orchid depends on fungi for nutrition and has no leaves or any other photosynthetic tissue. Although assessed as a threatened species, the plants have some protection because they are located in a national park.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/