Researchers Discover New Species of Enigmatic ‘Fairy Lantern’ Plants

In 2019, researcher and nature guide Mohamad Alias Shakri spotted an unusual plant in a forest in the Malaysian state of Terengganu. The plant grew in proximity to a well-known hiking trail, but it turns out he had discovered a previously undocumented species. As detailed in a study published Monday in the journal PhytoKeys, the plant is a newly described species in the peculiar Thismia genus, nicknamed the “fairy lantern” for its fantastical appearance. The plant was named Thismia aliasii in honor of Alias Shakri. “The discovery of Thismia aliasii is very interesting as it was found in a mountainous region known for its natural beauty. The discovery was made on the edge of a popular mountaineering trail, but, remarkably, the species was first recognized by Alias,” reads a statement by Pensoft Publishers, which publishes the journal PhytoKeys. Technology Networks attributes the quote to Siti-Munirah Mat Yunoh, the other author on the study and a research officer at the Forest Researc ... Read full article.