The researchers investigated the evolution of the non-blooming orchid species Gastrodia takeshimensis and Gastrodia kuroshimensis, using sensitive genetic analysis tools that can discern small differences between near-identical plants. Each species showed extreme genetic uniformity between individuals, confirming that the orchids reproduce purely by self-pollination. They likely evolved from other, insect-pollinated, Gastrodia orchids in the region. These orchids have a low rate of pollination success, compared to the nearly 100 percent success of self-pollinating orchids. Further studies into other self-pollinating Gastrodia lineages could shed more light into the conditions that make self-pollination a viable evolutionary strategy.