The last record of the Yellow Bird's Nest, or monotropa hypopitys, in the park dates back to 1896.

Since it doesn't require light to flourish, it can endure in the shadow.

It took a century, but the plant has finally returned, according to Mary Sheehan, a conservation ranger at Killarney National Park, and it is "very, very special."

She explained that in the last several weeks, while doing a routine inspection of the park, the rangers had found the Yellow Bird's Nest.

"We were all ecstatic to learn that this plant existed in Killarney National Park; we had no idea." We had previously seen pictures, therefore we forwarded this to Dr. Rory Hodd, the county registrar for County Kerry and member of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, who verified it."


She clarified that although there are other species that resemble it and the park has a lot of shade this time of year, "this plant was definitely different to those." And upon his return, he added, "This plant is extremely, extremely special."

According to Ms. Sheehan, artist Reginald William Scully last saw the plant in the park in 1896 "and thereafter unfortunately didn't record it ever again."

"This plant seems to be very uncertain in its appearances," he noted in a 1916 flora, but he also stated that "no doubt it will reappear." Thus, 128 years passed," she remarked.