Temu Bosuang (Boesenbergia bosuangii), Temu Gana-gana (Boesenbergia ganaensis) and Temu Gokusing (Boesenbergia gokusingii)

NEWS - Researchers from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, the Forest Research Institute Malaysia in Kepong and the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh have identified three new species, Temu Bosuang (Boesenbergia bosuangii), Temu Gana-gana (Boesenbergia ganaensis) and Temu Gokusing (Boesenbergia gokusingii).

B. bosuangii is similar to B. stenophylla R.M.Sm. in its narrow-oval lamina but differs in the shape of its bract and calyx. The species is endemic to Borneo, Sabah. The specific epithet is given by Dr Steven Bosuang, owner of Kipandi Park, an entomologist who works on insect and plant conservation in Sabah.

The new species grows in riverine areas in mixed dipterocarp forests at elevations of 50-300 metres and flowers in August. The researchers have proposed the status Vulnerable VU D1 due to its small population, limited space outside protected areas and potential threats from development, landslides and flooding.

B. ganaensis is closely related to B. burttiana R.M.Sm. but differs in the absence of ligule, longer petiole, blunt leaf base, pointed leaf tip, bilobed calyx and anthers peeled off by pores. This species is endemic to Kalimantan, Sabah.

The specific epithet refers to the location where the species was collected in Kampung Gana-gana, Ranau. This plant grows in granite areas at an elevation of 500-600 meters. The researchers proposed the conservation status Vulnerable (VU D2) because there are only four populations at the type site.

B. gokusingii is similar to B. variegata R.M.Sm., in that it has single-leafed shoots but differs in having unequal oblong laminae, heart-shaped leaf base, pointed leaf tip and anthers peeled off by pores. This species is endemic to Kalimantan, Sabah.

The specific epithet is based on Mr. Linus Gokusing from Kipandi Park who collected this plant in 2011. His passion for plants has provided useful information to the public. This species is in mixed dipterocarp forest at an elevation of 500-600 meters. Vulnerable status (VU D2) because it is only in the type location with 3-6 populations in each location.

Original research

Lam NF, Ibrahim H, Sam YY, Mohammad Zakaria R, Poulsen AD (2024) Three new species of Boesenbergia (Zingiberaceae) from Sabah, Malaysia. PhytoKeys 247: 39-53, DOI:10.3897/phytokeys.247.107961

Dlium theDlium

Sea almond (Terminalia catappa)

Ketapang or tropical almond or beach almond or talisay tree or umbrella tree or sea almond ( Terminalia catappa ) is a species of plant in the Combretaceae, a shady tree, fast growing, forming a multilevel canopy, often used as a shade tree in gardens and on roadsides. T. catappa grows large, up to 40 meters in height and up to 1.5 meters in trunk, shady canopy with branches that grow flat and terraced, young trees often look like pagodas while old and large trees often have aerial roots up to 3 meters. The leaves are scattered, mostly at the end of the twig, rounded egg upside down, 8-38 cm long, 5-19 cm wide, the tip is wide, the base is narrow, the upper surface is smooth, green but turns red if to fall out and short stalks. The flowers are small, collected near the tips of the twigs, 8-25 cm long and green-yellow in color. The flowers are not crowned, the petals have five taju, are plate or bell shaped, 4-8 mm long and are white or cream in color. Stamens in two circles and arra...

Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus)

Teki or purple nutsedge ( Cyperus rotundus ) is a species of plant in the Cyperaceae, an erect annual growing to a height of up to 140 cm, the leaves sprout in rows of three from the base to a length of 5-20 cm, ribbon-shaped, pointed tip and green in color. The inflorescence has a stalk with a triangular cross section and is green. The inflorescence has three to eight unequal spikes. The flower is bisexual, has 3 stamina and the pistil has three stigmas. The fruit is achene and triangular. Teki prefers dry places, but will tolerate moist soil and often grows in wastelands and in crop fields. Tubers are an important source of nutrition for migratory cranes. Source of carbohydrates in the tropics in times of famine. The initial stage forms a white fleshy rhizome, 25 mm long and in chains. Some of the rhizomes grow upright above the ground, then form a tuber-like structure from which new shoots and roots grow, new roots and new rhizomes grow. Other rhizomes grow horizontally or down...

Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea)

Sunn hemp ( Crotalaria juncea ) is a species of plant in the Fabaceae family, erect, woody shrub, growing up to 2 meters tall, cylindrical stems, angular, green with white hairs. The leaves are elongated, green and thick, up to 20 cm long and up to 4 cm wide. The petioles are up to 1 cm long. The inflorescences are yellow in long panicles. The fruit is an elongated, oval capsule, 3 cm long, with a 1 cm stalk and white hairs. The seeds are shiny, 2-3 mm long capsules. TAXON Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Tribe: Crotalarieae Genus: Crotalaria L. in Sp. Pl.: 714 (1753) Species: Crotalaria juncea L. in Sp. Pl.: 714 (1753) HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS Crotalaria benghalensis Lam. in Encycl. 2: 196 (1786) Crotalaria cannabinua Royle in Ill. Bot. Himal. Mts.: 82 (1834) Crotalaria fenestrata Sims in Bot. Mag. 44: t. 1933 (1817) Crotalaria juncea var. bengalensis (Lam.) Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. ...

Dlium