Affiliations 

  • 1 Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109, Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia Forest Research Institute Malaysia Kepong Malaysia
  • 2 No 49, Taman Desa Damai, 33300, Gerik, Perak, Malaysia Taman Desa Damai Gerik Malaysia
  • 3 The Royal Belum State Park, Perbadanan Taman Negeri Perak, Hentian Amanjaya Royal Belum, Pulau Banding, 33200, Gerik, Perak, Malaysia The Royal Belum State Park Gerik Malaysia
PhytoKeys, 2021;172:121-134.
PMID: 33664611 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.172.59336

Abstract

This report describes Thismia belumensis Siti-Munirah & Suhaimi-Miloko, a novel species of achlorophyllous herb discovered in the Royal Belum State Park, Peninsular Malaysia. This new species is unlike any previously described species of Thismia. In particular, T. belumensis possesses a unique annulus, which has been expanded and modified into a cucullate (hood-like) structure. This structure covers the apical floral tube and has an opening on one side facing a thickened part of the annulus, and the off-centre floral aperture confers a zygomorphic symmetry to the flower, indicating T. belumensis is more similar to Thismia labiata J.J.Sm. This morphological detail makes this new species distinct from all other described species of Thismia. In this report, we provide descriptions, illustrations, colour plates, and the provisional conservation status of Thismia belumensis.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.