SCIENCE MALAYSIA SPECIAL* : SHY AND RARE

Fairy lantern makes appearance in the forests of Malaysia : A bizarre plant was discovered near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the periphery of a forest preserve picnic area.

The plant, called a fairy lantern, is a parasite that steals all its energy and nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi that dwell in the soil. Usually hidden underground, the fairy lantern periodically produces a pinkish flower with a domed top, shaped like an umbrella, from which three tentacle-like structures extend.

Gim Siew Tan, a naturalist and photographer, stumbled upon the flower in November 2023. It was poking out of leaves on the ground. She posted photos to iNaturalist, a platform for identifying plants, animals and fungi.

'' So pretty and unique,'' she remembered thinking. '' Then came : ' What is this ?'" 

The photos found their way to Siti Munirah, a botanist with Forest Research Institute Malaysia, who immediately knew she was looking at an undiscovered species.

Ms. Tan, Ms. Siti Munirah and colleagues described the plant in a study published in the journal PhytoKeys.

After the discovery beside a stream in Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest, the researchers conducted several surveys nearby.

The Publishing continues to Part [ 2 ]. The World Students Society thanks Douglas Main.