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

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...

Tripa tiger moth (Nannoarctia tripartita)

Tripa tiger moth ( Nannoarctia tripartita ) is an animal species in the Erebidae, a moth with a forewing length of 14-18 mm, predominantly black or dark brown with white and orange hues, thick fur on the dorsal surface, long legs and antennae, living in forest scrub and agricultural land. N. tripartita in females has forewings 15-18 mm long, black or dark brown with slightly oblique transverse and few spots. The hind wings are yellow with large dark discal points and three other dots. Males have forewings 14-17 mm long, black or dark brown with transverse oblique postdiscal bands and several spots. The hind wings are yellow with brown costal margins, discal confluent points, wide ridges on the crest and angular points in the tornus. The head has a thin orange pattern and a pair of long black antennae. Long legs are black. Tripa tiger moths live in forest scrub, farmland and roadsides. More stationary by sticking to the leaf surface at the top. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropod...

Dry Valleys on Antarctic continent is the driest place in the world

The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the world, rainfall is very low, only stretches of sand and rocks without rivers and plants further strengthen the view of drought. However, it turns out that the place is not the driest place in the world. Dry Valleys in Antarctica, although the continent is covered in ice, but has one part that is completely dry. Although the average rainfall in most of the Sahara Desert is less than 20 millimeters per year, there are still drier places. Dry Valleys in Antarctica is much drier where the average rainfall is 0 millimeters per year and gets the title of the driest place in the world. The valleys have so low humidity that there is almost no ice. This is the largest ice free place on the Antarctic continent. The area is surrounded by mountains that block ice from flowing into the valley. Drought is also caused by strong katabalic gusts from mountain peaks where cold air blows down the hill due to gravity. The wind has speeds of up to 322 k...

Dlium