Thousands of Unstudied Plants May Be at Risk of Extinction
b'Pleurothallis portillae is one odd-looking orchid. Sporting a small nub of a flower nestled in a long, bulbous leaf that droops like a pair of string beans, it\\u2019s considered fashionably drab by collectors. But its true home is in the remote cloud forest of the Ecuadorian Andes---a region where, according to an algorithm, it\\u2019s most likely under threat of extinction. Plants have long gotten short shrift in conservation circles.\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices'