Rare Parasite Plant Named After A UKM Professor

Bernama 29 Mar 10;

KUCHING, March 29 (Bernama) -- A rare parasite plant related to the giant Rafflesia flower has been named after a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia don, Prof Dr Kamarudin Mat Salleh, who discovered it in June 2008.

Prof Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid from the University of Brunei said the new species of Rafflesia was named Rhizanthes Kamarudini.

"The plant, known locally as jambulipa, was discovered during a scientific expedition to the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary (LEWS) in June 2008. Prof Dr Kamarudin was conducting a detailed study to publish his research finding but he died last year from cancer.

"We named the plant after him to honour him," he told reporters after the opening of "Sarawak Biological Resources Forum 2010" by Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan here Monday.

Dr Mohamed, who was the leader of the expedition, said Rhizanthes were among the significant findings during the 10-day expedition.

"We discovered five new species of ginger, two of Begonia, two of Bulbophyllum (orchid), one of Thismia and Mapania. A new species of the fern Tectaria has also been discovered.

"Many of these plants may prove to be potential sources of ornamentals, medicinal oils and medicinal herbs with various therapeutic properties," he said.

For the faunal component, at least 10 species of fish were believed to be new to science and needed further elucidation, he added.

Detailed studies on the collections were still on-going and were likely to confirm the existence of many new species to science, he said.

-- BERNAMA

More new species may be discovered in Sarawak
Zora Chan, The Star 30 Mar 10;

KUCHING: More new flora and fauna species are expected to be discovered in totally protected areas in Sarawak.

Areas like Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Batang Ai National Park, Pulong Tau National Park and Mulu National Park have not been fully explored by researchers, said State Forest director Datuk Len Talif Salleh.

Citing an example, he said researchers had so far covered only about 40% of the total area of Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary in southern Sarawak.

“There is still a potential for new species to be discovered in these areas,” Len told a press conference here yesterday after the Sarawak Biological Resources Forum 2010.

One of the researchers, Professor Datuk Mohamed Abdul Majid from Universiti Brunei Darussalam, said a new plant similar to the Rafflesia normally found in Sumatra was discovered in Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary in 2008.

He added that they hoped to name it Rhizanthes Kamaruddini after one of the researchers, the late Professor Kamaruddin Mat Salleh from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia who discovered the flower.