Thismia malayana
WHAT IS IT?
This strangely beautiful plant, which grows up to about 10cm tall, is a member of the Burmanniaceae family, a group of mostly inconspicuous species that produce a huge variety of unusual flowers. This species bears golden, star-shaped blooms that attract the fungus gnats that pollinate it.
WHERE DOES IT LIVE?
So far, it has been found at two tropical rainforest sites in Peninsular Malaysia, where it grows among leaf litter and rotting wood on shady forest floors. First spotted in 2020 in the Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve in the state of Pahang, it was later found in Ulu Bendul Recreation Park near Negeri Sembilan.
WHAT’S THE MEANING BEHIND THE SCIENTIFIC NAME?
The genus, Thismia, which contains another 108 species, was described in 1844 by a Mr William Griffith, who named it in memory of a Mr Thomas Smith. (Thismia is an anagram of ‘Smith’ plus a Latinised ending.) The specific name, malayana, refers to the species’ known distribution in Peninsular Malaysia, formerly Malaya.
WHY ISN’T IT GREEN?
Like many other members of its family, the species does not photosynthesise, so it has no need for green chlorophyll. Instead, it parasitises subterranean fungi, from which it pilfers sugars and other nutrients.
IS IT RARE?
It’s difficult to say because the plant is so inconspicuous. Both sites where it has been found are popular with visitors and the few specimens discovered so far were located near well-trodden paths, suggesting that they might be at risk of trampling. Nonetheless, the species has been designated as ‘Vulnerable’ according to the IUCN criteria.