A botanical expedition from Chulalongkorn and Prince of Songkla universities discovered a new plant species in Thong Pha Phum National Park, in western Thailand. The species was named Thismia daemona and drew attention for its dark appearance, lack of leaves, and underground lifestyle in the forest.
The plant belongs to the genus Thismia, a group of small species popularly known, in some places, as "fairy lanterns." The discovery was described in a study published in the scientific journal PhytoKeys, in August.
The environment where the plant was found is considered unusual: at almost a thousand meters altitude, in a montane forest with seasonal dry periods. According to researchers, species of this genus normally occur in humid lowland forests.
Sahut Chantanaorrapint, a researcher from Prince of Songkla University, said that the discovery of Thismia daemona in the park was a great surprise, highlighting the importance of the find for knowledge of biodiversity in the region.
