Thismia domei and T. terengganuensis (Thismiaceae), two new species, and T. javanica, a new record from Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

Two new species of the mycoheterotrophic genus Thismia Griff. (Thismiaceae), Thismiadomei Siti-Munirah and T.terengganuensis Siti-Munirah from Peninsular Malaysia, are described and illustrated. Thismiadomei, characterized by its perianth lobes that are upright and curve inward, but are imperfectly connate, falls within sectionOdoardoa. Thismiaterengganuensis is characterized by its mitre with three appendages on its apex, so falls within sectionGeomitra. Both new species are unique and totally different from other described species, T.domei by the trichomes on its outer perianth tube surface and T.terengganuensis by its mitre with slender appendages. Thismiajavanica J.J.Sm, also from Terengganu, is a new record for Peninsular Malaysia.

Thismia belumensis (Thismiaceae), a remarkable new species from The Royal Belum State Park, Gerik, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia

“…Seventy years later, in 2018, a new species description was published – Thismia kelantanensis Siti-Munirah ( Siti-Munirah 2018 ). Since then, two more species have been described – Thismia domei Siti-Munirah and Thismia terengganuensis Siti-Munirah ( Siti-Munirah and Dome 2019 ). It is likely that more novel species will be discovered in the future ( Siti-Munirah and Dome 2019 ).…”

“…Since then, two more species have been described – Thismia domei Siti-Munirah and Thismia terengganuensis Siti-Munirah ( Siti-Munirah and Dome 2019 ). It is likely that more novel species will be discovered in the future ( Siti-Munirah and Dome 2019 ). The most recent publication describing Malaysian Thismia is from Sarawak (Borneo) and describes Thismia minutissima Dančák, Hroneš & Sochor ( Dančák et al 2020a ).…”

“…J.J.Sm, Thismia domei Siti-Munirah & Dome, Thismia fumida Ridl., Thismia grandiflora Ridl., Thismia javanica J.J. Sm, Thismia kelantanensis Siti-Munirah, Thismia racemosa Ridl. and Thismia terengganuensis Siti-Munirah ( Jonker 1948 ; Siti-Munirah 2018 ; Siti-Munirah and Dome 2019 ).…”

Thismia panamensis (Standl.) Jonker (Thismiaceae): first record for southern Brazil

“…(Thismiaceae) is a pantropical genus of mycoheterotrophic herbs with approximately 90 species (Sahut and Tosak 2021;Siti-Munirah et al 2021). It is particularly species-rich in Southeast Asia, where a great number of new species been recently described (Yunoh and Nikong 2019;Dančák et al 2020aDančák et al , 2020bSilva et al 2020;Shepeleva et al 2020;Xu et al 2020;Sahut and Tosak 2021;Siti-Munirah et al 2021). In the Neotropics, its center of diversity is the Atlantic Rainforest, which harbors the majority of American Thismia (9 out of 14 species) (Maas et al 1986;Mancinelli et al 2012;Voloschen et al 2013;Silva et al 2020).…”

Fairy lanterns in focus

“…The morphologies of these new species are particularly diverse. Examples of recent discoveries from deep in the forests of Peninsular Malaysia include: T. belumensis (Figure 1a,b), which possesses a uniquely expanded annulus that is modified into a unique, hood‐like structure (Siti‐Munirah et al, 2021); T. kelantanensis (Figure 1c), which has a mitre with a distinct warty appendage, 6‐partite hood, and bi‐colored corolla (Siti‐Munirah, 2018), and T. domei (Figure 1d), which is characterized by its erect, inwardly‐curved perianth lobes and loose mitre (Siti‐Munirah & Dome, 2019). Only this year, we described a new species, T. sitimeriamae , which is found along a popular tourist trail in Peninsular Malaysia and has hitherto gone unnoticed (Siti‐Munirah et al, in press).…”