Malaysia finds rare 'lantern flower' threatened with extinction

This unusual plant was found in the mountain forests in the east of Peninsular Malaysia. The new species was named Thismia aliasii in honour of its discoverer, the explorer Mohamad Alias Shakri.

Details: Mat Yunoh Siti-Munirah et al, Thismia aliasii (Thismiaceae), a new species from Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia, PhytoKeys (2025). DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.254.136085

The peculiarity of the 'magic lantern' is that it does not photosynthesise like ordinary plants, but depends entirely on fungi to provide it with nutrients. The flowers of these plants have an unusual shape resembling small lanterns and are pollinated with the help of small insects such as fungal mosquitoes.

Thismia aliasii was first spotted in 2019 near a hiking mountain trail in the Chemerong Ecological Park in Terengganu state. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, research and repeat expeditions were postponed, but scientists were later able to return and scrutinise the find.

The researchers emphasise that the new species is in a critical condition. According to the results of several expeditions, only five specimens of the plant were found. The main danger to its survival is the destruction of the natural environment due to the active development of tourism and trekking in this region.

Thus, the state of Terengganu confirms its status as a unique place for the diversity of "magic lanterns". Thirteen species of plants of the genus Thismia have already been found here, six of which are found only in this area.

Scientists hope that attention to the discovery will help protect this rare plant from extinction.