March 04, 2009 19:51 PM

Rare Flower Found In Lanjak Entimau

KUCHING, March 4 (Bernama) -- A scientific expedition to an unexplored eastern part of Sarawak's Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary (LEWS) last June, discovered a new species of the rare Rhizanthes (Rafflesiaceae), locally known as jambu lipa.

According to findings by researchers Donna Jackson and Kamarudin Mat-Salleh of the Universiti Putra Malaysia, Bintulu Campus, the large flower which has 16 tail-like appendages measuring 8.5cm long is unique because it mimics stinking rotting flesh when in fragance, thus helping to attract flies which pollinate it.

The plant has outstanding features, including its orange-white batik pattern halfway through every tepal (outer part of the flower), with dense hair covering its entire inner side.

It was found approximately 500 to 800 metres from the survey strip along Sungai Joh and Sungai Layak, a primary riverine forest.

The leader of the expedition, Prof Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid, said today the Rhizanthes, a parasitic plant that could be found growing on other plants, has eco-tourism potential.

"We have other rare Rhizanthes in the Peninsula and Sabah but this is a new species," he told reporters after the launch of 'Seminar of Biodiversity of Eastern Lanjak Entimau - Hidden Jewel of Sarawak' by state assistant minister of planning and resources management Mohamad Naroden Majais here.

The two-day seminar, jointly organised by the Malaysia Academy of Science, Forest Department Sarawak and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) attracted more than 150 participants.

It is a follow-up of the scientific expedition which was held from June 16-29 last year, to provide opportunities for those who had participated in the expedition to present and list their findings.

The expedition attracted 175 scientists from local and foreign institutions, including those from Brunei, Indonesia, Germany and Japan, who were involved in carrying out research on five main aspects of the area situated in the Heart of Borneo Project.

-- BERNAMA

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