Rare ‘Fairy Lantern’ Plant Discovered Near Kuala Lumpur

A bizarre and rare parasitic plant, popularly known as a fairy lantern, has been discovered near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the outskirts of a forest reserve’s picnic area. The plant was found emerging from leaf litter in November 2023, an unusual sight as it typically remains hidden underground.

Identified by a Citizen Scientist
The discovery was made by naturalist and photographer Gim Siew Tan, who noticed the strange pinkish flower poking out from the forest floor. She uploaded photographs to iNaturalist, a global biodiversity platform, which helped scientists identify the species.

New Species Named Thismia selangorensis
The plant has now been formally described in a study published in the journal PhytoKeys and named Thismia selangorensis. It belongs to a group of elusive plants commonly referred to as fairy lanterns.

A Mycoheterotrophic Plant
Thismia selangorensis is a mycoheterotroph, meaning it does not photosynthesise. Instead, it derives all its energy and nutrients by parasitising mycorrhizal fungi present in the soil. Globally, only about 550 species of mycoheterotrophs are known, a tiny fraction of the estimated 435,000 plant species on Earth.

Distinctive Appearance
The plant periodically produces a striking flower with a pinkish hue, a domed umbrella-shaped top known as a mitre, and three tentacle-like structures extending from it. Researchers noted that the species has an “extraordinarily wide” mitre, making it particularly distinctive among fairy lanterns.

Rare and Difficult to Observe
Like many mycoheterotrophic plants, fairy lanterns are extremely hard to find. They spend most of their lives underground and emerge only briefly during unpredictable flowering periods, making discoveries like this scientifically significant.

Source: IE