Reality bites: Star show claims rare plant

A treasure hunt show on Dragon Television went all wrong when some star participants plucked a rare plant in Tibet.

The participants on Go Fighting: Search for Treasure believed they were picking adonis flowers on a mountain 4,000 meters high. However, botanists say it was Saussurea medusa, a rare plant that was recently added to the draft protected species list.

Botanists say the plant usually grows on stony surfaces at 4,500 meters, where the ground almost always consists of pebbles and little earth. Besides, at such altitude, it is freezing for 8-10 months, so it takes years for a seed to grow and for flowers to bloom. Not surprisingly, one often has to walk kilometers before finding one.