The inconspicuous, peach-colored flowers of “Thismia selangorensis” stand like little lanterns between moist leaves and root wood. The delicate plants, only about ten centimeters high, push their bright, umbrella-shaped heads out of the ground, their slender stems protrude into the air like thin antennae. A rare sight, as there are only around 20 specimens of this species in the wild, with an estimated habitat of just four square kilometers. That’s why “Thismia selangorensis” is also one of the endangered species according to the criteria of the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The species joins the 120 known representatives of the genus “Thismia”, a group of mycoheterotrophic plants. Unlike ordinary, photosynthetically active plants, these do not have chlorophyll. They do not get their energy from sunlight, but entirely through parasitic relationships with soil fungi.
Like many species of its genus, this plant parasite grows in forests with dense ground litter. Moist, shady soils often hide them completely. Their habitat has been visited by humans for decades, but it was only in November 2023 that nature photographer Tan Gim Siew discovered a single specimen. It grew between damp leaves and the buttress roots of a tree on the river bank in Taman Eko Rimba Sungai Chongkak.
In a new study, researchers led by first author Siti-Munirah Mat Yunoh from the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRMI) have documented this discovery of Thismia selangorensis. “This discovery shows that significant scientific discoveries are not limited to remote jungle areas, but can also be made in ordinary environments where constant human activity makes such discoveries unlikely,” said Yunoh.
She advocates that greater focus should now be placed on protecting these rare plants: “The protection of Thismia selangorensis requires collaboration between researchers, the forestry authority, stakeholders and the public, as its survival depends on how careful we are in its habitat,” explains the researcher.