Scientists have recently discovered the world's largest plant growing underwater in Western Australia. According to a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the plant, discovered at Shark Bay, is believed to span as much as 200 square kilometres (77sq miles). This surface area is slightly larger than the city of Glasgow, more than three times the size of Manhattan Island or roughly 20,000 rugby fields, the Independent reported.
Researchers said that the discovery was made by accident, after stumbling across the plant while carrying out genetic testing. They initially believed the plant to be a giant seagrass meadow, but they later found that it was a plant spread from a single seed. Experts believe the plant to be about 4,500-years-old and 180km-long.
As per the study, the researchers said that the plant is a single clone of "Posidonia australis" seagrass and the largest known example of a clone in any environment on Earth. It is believed to have formed in shallow waters after the inundation of the Shark Bay area less than 8,500 years ago.
Also Read | 765 Jumps In 24 Hours: Man Sets New Bungee Jumping World Record
Speaking to ABC Australia, evolutionary biologist and study co-author Elizabeth Sinclair, from the University of Western Australia, said, "We were quite surprised when we had a good look at the data and it seemed to indicate that everything belonged to the one plant."
Further, the researchers said that apart from the unusual size of the plant, its ability to sustain itself for thousands of years suggests it has developed resilience to recover from an extreme climate event via vegetative growth. They added that the signs of reproductive activity in the plant are also "unremarkable" because it doesn't flower or seed as much.
Also Read | Record Number Of Women In Australia's New Cabinet
The experts said that the relative abundance of the plant suggests that it has evolved a resilience to variable and often extreme conditions that enable it to persist now and into the future.
UAE Possible Candidate To Host Women's T20 World Cup 2024, Bangladesh Ask For More Time Steve Smith Unsure About Australia T20I Future, Wants Another IPL Opportunity Viral Video: Food Vlogger Shares Hacks To Keep Your Fruits And Veggies Fresh For Longer Than Usual Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Blinken Heading To Israel To Press Gaza Truce 'INDIA' Is with You Against "Injustice": Rahul Gandhi To Arvind Kejriwal "Strong Indications" Bangladesh Security Forces Used "Unnecessary" Force: UN Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.