From March 11, the Prefectural Museum of Nature and Human Activities (Sanda City) is holding a preliminary exhibition, “Rediscovering the World’s One and Only Flower [Koubetanuki no Shokudai],” until April 9.
Ecological photo (courtesy of Prof. Suetsugu)
The “Koubetanuki no Shokudai” is a flower of a mycorrhizal plant collected in Kobe City in 1992. The single specimen collected at that time was the first and last sighting in the world, and was thought to be “extinct” since the collection site had been developed since then.
Detailed description of the ecology of the flower discovered for the first time in 30 years
However, in February 2023, Professor Kenji Suetsugu of the Faculty of Science at Kobe University, who had named this flower as a new species, and his colleagues announced the rediscovery of this plant. The excitement of the researchers has not abated, and this exhibition is now being held.
Precious flower specimens on display
This exhibition features two actual specimens collected for the first time in 30 years. The exhibition explains in an easy-to-understand manner how the species was discovered and rediscovered, the interior of the flowers of this species, and the diversity of this group. <A word from the reporter>
I’m really curious how this flower, which researchers couldn’t find no matter how hard they looked for it, is alive and how it was found! The name of the exhibition, “Flash Report Exhibition,” seems to convey its preciousness and surprise
^_^Detailed Information
- Exhibition Period
- March 11 (Sat) – April 9 (Sun), 2023
- Place
- Hitohaku Salon, 4th floor, Museum of Nature and Human Activities, Hyogo
(6 Yayogaoka, Sanda City)
Find it on GoogleMap - Hours
- 10:00 – 17:00 (Admission until 16:30)
- Closed
- Mondays
- Admission
- Adults 200 yen
College students 150 yen
70 years and older 100 yen
High school students and younger free