A team of biodiversity and ecological conservation researchers from Nanjing Forestry University has discovered a near-threatened species, the Goodyera schlechtendaliana, during a comprehensive survey of wild flora and fauna in Longyou county, Quzhou.

Goodyera schlechtendaliana is a member of the Orchid family and typically thrives in broadleaf forests at altitudes of 500 to 2,800 meters. The plant’s distinctive green leaves, marked with irregular white spots, and its delicate, partially open white or pinkish flowers resemble tiny birds in flight.

This orchid also holds a remarkable distinction in the plant world — its seeds are the smallest known. Incredibly, 50,000 seeds weigh a mere 0.025 grams.

The discovery is part of a larger initiative launched by the Longyou county government in late 2021 to better understand and protect the region's wildlife.

To date, the survey has covered 120 plant transects, identifying 698 species across 140 families and 410 genera, including three species under national first-class protection and more than 10 second-class protected species.