Botanist Has Described 18 New Tree Species
The research brings the total count of identified plants for one expert to 150 species across three South American nations.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Botany
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Botanist Jose Luis Fernandez-Alonso has published studies detailing 18 previously undescribed tree species within the genera Matisia and Quararibea. The findings, sourced from forests in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, result from three decades of field research.
Why it matters
Detailed taxonomic categorization is critical for conservation efforts and identifying plant organisms for potential use in applied sciences. Fernandez-Alonso emphasizes this work as essential to cataloging unknown flora before these ecosystems are lost.
The study adds 18 species to the Matisia and Quararibea genera, building on thirty years of data collection. Researchers estimate that between 10,000 and 100,000 flora species globally remain unknown to science.
The players
Jose Luis Fernandez-Alonso
A 66-year-old botanist based at Madrid's Royal Botanic Garden who has discovered approximately 150 plant species.
Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences
The academic institution that published the research in its journal.
The details
Fernandez-Alonso compiled his findings using field notebooks containing data, sketches, and location coordinates gathered during expeditions to South American jungles that began in the 1990s. The process involved synthesizing primary observational data, often collected during field research trips initially funded for other objectives. This methodical archival work allows researchers to formally classify plants that had previously escaped scientific documentation.
Timeline
1783-1808: Royal Botanical Expedition to the New Kingdom of Granada.
1989: Fernandez-Alonso visited Pacific forests for the first time.
1990s: Collection of field notes in South American jungles.
2026: Official publication of the 18 new tree species.
The Tech Race
This work continues a historical legacy of South American exploration dating back to the Royal Botanical Expedition to the New Kingdom of Granada. It underscores an ongoing race to catalog global biodiversity against the backdrop of an estimated 100,000 unknown plant species.
These findings provide the foundational data required for conservationists and environmental scientists to better protect South American forest ecosystems. The work represents a significant expansion of known plant biology, facilitating better environmental management for researchers and policymakers.
The takeaway
Botanical taxonomy remains a slow-moving but vital effort to map the Earth's biological foundation. Watch for upcoming research from Fernandez-Alonso as he aims to complete his cataloging work before his planned retirement at age 70.
What happens next
Jose Luis Fernandez-Alonso plans to publish his remaining research findings before he reaches the age of 70.
Further reading
For more on the current state of plant classification, visit Botany.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EL PAÍS.
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