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| Stigmatodactylus maraiparaiensis in Md.-Isa, Justine et Robinson, 2025. |
The newly described Stigmatodactylus maraiparaiensis was spotted on Mt Kinabalu, one of Borneo’s most botanised mountains, where it is known from a remote plateau visited by many researchers over the last century. This work demonstrates the high value of periodic flora surveys even in well-explored areas to more effectively capture fleetingly emergent or ephemeral species at the fertile stage.
Stigmatodactylus is widespread from eastern Asia into Oceania, but infrequently documented in tropical Asia. This is because they’re diminutive, have short and irregular flowering periods, and produce cryptic blooms that blend into the leaf litter of their deep shade habitats. Many also only grow in remote, high-elevation forests that few ever reach. Clearly, botanical surprises still lurk in the shadows!
The description of Stigmatodactylus maraiparaiensis brings the total number of Stigmatodactylus species for Malaysia to three and the total number of accepted species in the genus to 29.
Siti Fatimah MD.-ISA, Vanielie Terrence JUSTINE and Alastair S. ROBINSON. 2025. A New Species of Stigmatodactylus (Orchidaceae) from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Phytotaxa. 711(2); 209-214. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.711.2.11 [2025-07-24]
