Nestled amidst the dark soil, the ‘owl’ plant emits an eerie emerald glow. This miniscule plant bursts forth from the ground near the base of trees, its blooming bodies resembling the face of a scowling owl. Known scientifically as ‘Gastrodia kuroshimensis,’ it is a myco-heterotrophic species, deriving its sustenance not through photosynthesis, but from a symbiotic relationship with fungi associated with tree roots.
Discovered in Thailand’s Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, the plant’s peculiar appearance has earned it the local name ‘Phisawong Ta Nok Hook,’ meaning ‘mysterious owl’s eye.’ The plant spends most of its life concealed beneath the soil, only revealing its distinctive fruiting body when it bursts forth above ground.
The photographer behind the award-winning image, Somphob Lertsintanakorn, learned of this rare species through photographer Suchat Chanhomhuan, one of its discoverers. With Chanhomhuan’s guidance, Lertsintanakorn located the plant in Thailand’s Tak Province. The plant’s preferred habitat near the base of trees provides it with easy access to the underground network of fungi that supply it with essential nutrients.
The tiny parasite disrupts the symbiotic relationship between fungi and trees, intercepting the sugars that the trees provide to the fungi. As a result, ‘Gastrodia kuroshimensis’ has evolved to be incredibly small, measuring a mere 2 to 8 millimeters in length. Lertsintanakorn’s captivating image of the ‘owl’ plant has earned him Gold in the Plants and Fungi category of the prestigious World Nature Photography Awards. This annual competition showcases the stunning diversity and beauty of the natural world through the lens of talented photographers.
