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| Thismia malayana Siti-Munirah, Hardy-Adrian, Mohamad-Shafiq & Irwan-Syah, in Siti-Munirah, Hardy-Adrian, Mohamad-Shafiq, Irwan-Syah et Hamidi, 2024. |
Abstract
A new species of the mycoheterotrophic genus Thismia from Malaysia is described and illustrated. Thismia malayana introduced here was found in two localities: in the lowlands of Gunung Angsi Forest Reserve, Negeri Sembilan, and in the hilly dipterocarp forests of Gunung Benom in Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve, Pahang. Thismia malayana falls into the section Thismia subsect. Odoardoa, as it has creeping vermiform roots and free equal tepals. It is characterised by the following taxonomically important features: a sepia-brown, urceolate-curved floral tube, free equal tepals with terminal appendages, prominent bright yellow annulus and bright violet-blue stamens each bearing five appendages (one pair of club-shaped inwards-pointing, one pair of acute outwards-pointing, and one central appendage). According to the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List, T. malayana is provisionally classified as Vulnerable.
Key words: Negeri Sembilan, new species, Pahang, Thismia subsect. Odoardoa, Vulnerable
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| Thismia malayana with scales (the finest grade is 0.5 mm) A side view B top view C the size compared to the 20-sen coin (23.59 mm in diameter). Photos by Hardy-Adrian from uncollected plants. |
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| Thismia malayana A flowering plant A1 floral tube, inner surface A2 annulus and stamen filaments, view from inside B inflorescence with anthetic flower and several young fruits B1 style and stigma B2 annulus, top view C flower, side view D, E stamens, view from inside and from outside, E1 stamen supraconnectives: one pair of club-shaped inwards-pointing, one pair of acute outwards-pointing, and one central appendage F stamen supraconnectives, apical view G stamen tube, view from below H, H1 fruit after dehiscence, top view, H2 seeds I shoot base with roots. Photos by Siti-Munirah (A1–I) and Hardy-Adrian (A) from FRI 101701 (A), FRI 101702 (F, G, I), FRI 101703 (E1), FRI 101705 (B, B2, H, H1, H2) & FRI 101710 (A1, A2, B1, C, D, E). Images not to scale (see dimensions in description and Figs 1, 3). |
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| Thismia malayana A flowering plant B flower, side view C flower, view from above D flower, longitudinal section E three stamens, outer view F tepal with terminal appendage, adaxial view G ovary, longitudinal section H style and stigma I involucral bract, adaxial view J leaf, adaxial view. All drawn by Mohamad Aidil Noordin from spirit material, Siti-Munirah FRI 101705 (A–C); FRI 101701 (D–J). |
Thismia malayana Siti-Munirah, Hardy-Adrian, Mohamad-Shafiq & Irwan-Syah, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Thismia malayana resembles T. chrysops but differs by the brown-whitish colour of the floral tube (vs. very dark sepia brown), glabrous surface of the tepal appendages (vs. finely ciliate), presence of transverse bars at inner surface of floral tube (vs. bars absent), supraconnective apex of each stamen with 5 appendages: one pair of club-shaped inwards-pointing, one pair of acute outwards-pointing, and one central appendage (vs. 7 appendages: one pair of club-shaped, one pair of acute and 3 central appendages).
Etymology: The specific epithet malayana is derived from Malaya, a name formerly used for Peninsular Malaysia. The epithet refers to the known region of the species distribution.
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| Habitat (in situ) of Thismia malayana in Ulu Bendul RP in Gunung Angsi FR (A, B) and the Tengku Hassanal WR (C–E) A Thismia malayana at its habitat, which is located right next to the main trail to Gunung Angsi B Siti-Munirah showing the habitat of T. malayana C path to Lata Bujang and Gunung Benom D the plants growing on rotten wood E Mohamad-Shafiq observed a Thismia malayana in its habitat. Photos by Siti-Munirah (A, B) and Mohamad-Shafiq (C–E). |
Mat Yunoh Siti-Munirah, Chin Hardy-Adrian, Sharipudin Mohamad-Shafiq, Zainuddin Irwan-Syah and Abd Halim Hamidi. 2024. Thismia malayana (Thismiaceae), A New mycoheterotrophic Species from Peninsular Malaysia. PhytoKeys. 242: 229-239. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.242.120967
