A chance encounter at a rare and unique plant — one that does not have leaves feeding on sunlight — has been found deep in the rainforests of Malaysia, paving the way for it to be scientifically described for the next time.

Thismia, commonly known as fairy lanterns, refers to a genus of rare flowering plants native to specific parts of East and Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and the Americas. Aside from being unusually small — with the new species standing only 0.86 inches (2.2 centimeters) tall — the fairy lanterns usually rely on fungi for their substance. This makes them different from most plants that require sunlight to synthesize their own food in a process called myco-heterotrophy.

Researchers present their findings in a new report titled "Thismia sitimeriamiae (Thismiaceae), an extraordinary new species from Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia," appearing in the latest issue of the PhytoKeys journal.

Thismia sitimeriamiae
(Photo: Mat Yunoh Siti-Munirah, Nikong Dome, Chris J. Thorogood via Phytokeys )
A) the habitat in Gunung Sarut, in the State of Terengganu (PM), B) the habit of flowering specimen C) a fruiting specimen (in situ).

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In Honor of a Mother's Love

In their paper, researchers disclose that the new species, which they designated to be Thismia sitimeriamiae, is "distinct from all other Thismia species known to science." The research team includes taxonomist Mat Yunoh Siti-Munirah from the Forest Research Institute Malaysia, photographer Nikong Dome, and Chris Thorogood from the University of Oxford. The plant, standing less than an inch tall, sports a bright orange-yellow hue with translucent parts filled with small structures.

The new plant species was first discovered by Dome, who was also a rainforest explorer, back in 2019 - growing on a patch along a tourist track on Gunung Sarut, a mountain in the state of Terengganu in Malaysia. In February 2020, Dome returned together with a team of botanists. After assessing the little sample they recovered, the researchers released the first data on the new species — scientifically described and reported.

It was named Thismia sitimeriamiae in honor of Dome's mother, Siti Meriam, in recognition of her support for her son's dedication to conservation work in Terengganu, Malaysia. On Twitter, Thorogood posted an image showing the type illustration for the recently scientifically described species. He wrote: "Shout out for my collaborator Siti-Munirah, and to Dome Nikong for discovering this special plant deep in the Malaysian rainforest

."

@twitter|https://twitter.com/thorogoodchris1/status/1410352955056873485?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw@

Rare Among Rare Flowers

Additionally, what makes T. sitimeriamiae unique is that it was not discovered near fungus gnats, known to provide food for most of the known Thismia species. The examination of the recovered samples from Terengganu additionally reveals that it has a curious umbrella-like structure positioned on top of it, supported by four pillars or appendages. The structure called a "mitre," is among the plant's rare features, making it among the most visually captivating finds from peninsular Malaysia.

"The extraordinary architecture of the flower raises interesting questions about how it is pollinated," Thorogood said in an Oxford University news article. 

Lastly, researchers recommended additional survey work to better shed light on the nature, structure, and function of fairy lanterns and, more importantly, inform the conservation priorities for these little-known plants.

 

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