A giant tree that towers more than 130 feet tall, found only in the rainforest of Cameroon, is among the top discoveries of botanical discoveries of 2010 as listed by experts at the UK facility in Kew. Though large, the magnificent Magnistipula multinervia is very rare and only four known specimen exist.

Other discoveries from the plant world made by scientists during 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, include a poisonous aubergine that has been used for generations by local people in Africa to treat infections, and a new species of mistletoe discovered flourishing in a mountain forest in Mozambique.

Keeper of the herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Professor David Mabberley noted with caution that although there are some 300,000 plants identified thus far, at the current rate of destruction many will disappear without anyone knowing that they ever existed.

Our thanks, Professor Mabberley and all at the Royal Botanic Gardens for sharing these wonders of the natural world. May we all be reminded of to cherish these boundless gifts of beauty and diversity that are bestowed by the Divine.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8211185/Giant-tree-and-tropical-mistletoe-among-2010s-great-discoveries.html
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-12/rbgk-ntm121710.php