The genus Thismia comprises small herbaceous plants that are completely mycoheterotrophic, drawing their sustenance from fungi. These plants have garnered considerable attention from researchers due to their peculiar appearance and extraordinarily intricate and diverse floral morphologies. There are known to be 105 species and one variety of Thismia worldwide, primarily found in tropical and subtropical Asia, temperate Australia, and tropical America.
During a field survey in the Malipo Laozu Provincial Nature Reserve in southwestern China in 2019, researchers from the Southwest China Germplasm Bank of Wild Species stumbled upon a structurally distinct and uniquely shaped plant. Its form bears a striking resemblance to the "aliens" often depicted in science fiction movies. Through collaborative efforts between the researchers and the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and through meticulous examination of its morphological structures, review of relevant literature, and evidence from molecular fragments, this species was identified as a previously undescribed species within the genus Thismia. According to the type locality, the species was named Thismia malipoensis J. D. Ya & W. B. Yu. The research findings have recently been published in Phytotaxa.
Image of Thismia malipoensis Plant and Habitat
Image source: Research Team
The Thismia malipoensis, commonly known as the Malipo Thismia, is a small mycoheterotrophic herb of the genus Thismia. It has garnered significant attention from researchers due to its peculiar appearance and extraordinarily diverse flower morphology. There are currently known to be 105 species and one variety worldwide, primarily distributed across tropical and subtropical Asia, temperate Australia, and tropical America.
In a recent publication, researchers conducted a study focusing on the "extraterrestrial" aspects of this plant species. By integrating molecular fragment data, they constructed a phylogenetic tree to determine the systematic position of this new species relative to its close relatives.
Close-up of Thismia malipoensis, provided by the research team.
Biogeographic analysis indicates that the ancestral distribution of the genus Thismia stretches from southwestern China to the Indomalayan realm, including Myanmar, India, and the Sunda Shelf. From there, it dispersed eastward to southeastern China and Japan, as well as southward to New Guinea and Australia.
Additionally, Thismia species in China have originated from at least two different ancestors. Geographical isolation led to the divergence between T. malipoensis from Malipo and its close relative T. abei from Japan around 17.47 million years ago.
Only around 10 individuals of T. malipoensis have been found in its type locality, with no new individuals discovered in later surveys. It has been assessed as "Critically Endangered (CR)".
Researchers note that like this new species, most Thismia species are only discovered or collected once or a few times, with very small populations. Since the germination and growth of Thismia seeds heavily rely on specific symbiotic fungi, the most effective conservation approach is through protecting their native habitats.
Southeastern Yunnan serves as a crucial link between the plant floras of China and tropical Southeast Asia, harboring typical ancient tropical karst landscapes. It is one of the biodiversity hotspots in China but also ecologically fragile. With support from national and provincial projects, the Southwest China Germplasm Bank of Wild Species will continue to enhance the investigation and collection of plant germplasm resources in this region to ensure the security and long-term preservation of China's strategic biological resources.
For more information, refer to the related paper: Link to Paper.
