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Oxford Scientists Impressed With Ultra Rare Flower Species Found In Terengganu
In 2019, a Malaysian photographer and independent researcher discovered an extremely-rare flower in Terengganu.
Suzairi Zakaria, better known as Dome Nikong, found the plant growing along a popular tourist track on Gunung Sarut, a mountain located in the Hulu Nerus Forest Reserve.
Dome Nikong then collaborated with Oxford University scientist, Dr Chris Thorogood, from Oxford Botanic Garden and Dr Siti-Munirah from the Forest Research Institute Malaysia to study further about the flower.
Named after Dome Nikong's mother
According to a statement released by the university, the flower identified as a "fairy lantern" plant (genus Thismia), has since been named Thismia sitimeriamiae after Dome Nikong's mother Siti Meriam.
The statement described the flowers as "among the most extraordinary-looking of all flowering plants".
“They found that it has a unique and peculiar orange, lantern-like flower with pillars holding up a so-called ‘mitre’ – an umbrella-like structure, the function of which is a mystery.
"The plant’s unique and remarkable ‘mitre’, colour and surface texture make Thismia sitimeriamiae among the most eye-catching plants ever described from Peninsular Malaysia," read the statement.
The report further said that the flower only grows in the darkest parts of remote rainforests, and flower for extremely brief periods – often underneath fallen leaves.
It said only “few people are lucky enough to encounter them”.
Thismia sitimeriamiae has been categorised as critically endangered (CR) according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) criteria.
The study on the plant has been published in the journal Phytokeys, where it was noted that further survey work is needed to expose more about fairy lanterns.
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