A close-up of the world’s smallest orchid, at just over 2mm from
petal tip to petal tip. Image: Lou Jost. The world’s smallest
orchid was discovered recently in a mountainous nature reserve
in Ecuador by American botanist Lou Jost. Dr. Jost, a former
physicist, now works as a mathematical ecologist, plant
biogeographer and conservation scientist, and is one of the
world’s most expert orchid hunters. In the previous decade, Dr.
Jost discovered 60 new species of orchids and 10 other new plant
species. He discovered this diminutive plant whilst examining
another species of small orchid that he was cultivating. “I
found it among the roots of another plant that I had collected,
another small orchid which I took back to grow in my greenhouse
to get it to flower,” Dr. Jost stated. “A few months later I saw
that down among the roots was a tiny little plant that I
realized was more interesting than the bigger orchid.” “Looking
at the flower is often the best way to be able to identify which
species of orchid you’re go