by Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Oct 12: During the Heart of Borneo (HoB) Generai-Long Engaba Scientific expedition in 2022, a rare and endemic plant species, Hexatheca Longipedunculata (Gesneriaceae), was discovered in Marudi, Sarawak.
Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration, and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, emphasised the importance of these scientific findings for Sarawak.
“These latest findings are interesting, and we want to know more about these genus of plants that is endemic in Marudi, which has significant value to Sarawak,” he told reporters after officiating at a HoB seminar titled ‘Generai-Long Mekaba Scientific Expedition—Exploring the Hinterland of North Eastern Sarawak’ on behalf of Deputy Premier Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who is also Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, at a hotel here today.
He mentioned that such rare plants may have ornamental or medicinal value, though these properties may not be known to the local community in the area.
“These rare plants found are usually small and deceiving to the eyes. It is usually grown among other plants and hard to spot,” he said.
The specific applications and uses of these newly discovered species are still under investigation, and further research is required to determine their potential contributions to ecology.
The research on this rare and endemic plant species was conducted by Sarawak Forest Department and Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) officers, Julia Sang, Ruth Kiew, and Chea Yiing Ling.
In attendance at the event were Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performance Arts, Datu Sherrina Hussani, and Sarawak Director of Forest, Datu Hamden Mohammad. — DayakDaily
