Remarkable new plant species steals nutrients from underground fungi

A striking plant that steals nutrients from underground fungi has been discovered as a new species by botanists from the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) in collaboration with local naturalists and stakeholders. The research has been published in the journal PhytoKeys.

Discovered in the tropical rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia, Thismia malayana belongs to a group of plants known as mycoheterotrophs. Unlike most plants, mycoheterotrophs do not perform photosynthesis. Instead, they act as a parasite, stealing carbon sources from the fungi on their roots.

This adaptation takes advantage of mycorrhizal symbiosis, which is usually a mutually beneficial relationship between colonizing fungi and a plant’s root system.

By stealing nutrients from fungi, this newly discovered species thrives in the low-light conditions of dense forest understory, where its highly specialized flowers are pollinated by fungus gnats and other small insects.

The unusual plant is about 2cm tall and is usually found hidden in leaf litter and growing near tree roots or old rotten tree trunks. The research team identified Thismia malayana in two locations: the lowlands of Gunung Angsi Forest Reserve in Negeri Sembilan and the hilly dipterocarp forests of Gunung Benom in Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve, Pahang.

Despite its small size, Thismia malayana is very sensitive to environmental changes and is classified as Vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List criteria. Its limited distribution and the potential threat of trampling due to proximity to hiking trails underscore the importance of continued conservation efforts.