Fairy Lantern Plant: New Plant Species 'Thismia Malayana' That Steals Nutrients from Fungi Discovered in Malaysia

The fairy lantern plant is known for stealing nutrients from the underground fungal mycelia fungi to survive. However, it is also popular across the scientific community due to its unique qualities from its other green counterparts, such as deviating from the biological process of photosynthesis. Scientifically known as Thismia rodwayi, this non-chlorophyllous plant can be found in Australia and New Zealand, at least.

Now, a new study earlier this year shows that scientists found a new plant species of fairy lantern plant in Peninsular Malaysia, called Thismia Malayana. The research paper suggests that this is a new member of the mycoheterotrophic genus Thismia native to the said Southeast Asian country. In a separate 2023 study, scientists also re-discovered a fungi-eating fairy lantern plant in Japan, 30 years after its perceived extinction.

The existence of fairy lanterns shows the possibility of symbiosis between fungi and plants. For millions of years, animals and plants have been subjected to parasitic fungi, causing potential health hazards to the living organism host. Regardless, the 2024 study led by researchers in Malaysia indicate that the relationship between these organisms can be mutual or the other way around, as shown by the fungi-eating plants.

What are Fairy Lantern Plants?

Fairy lantern plants are relatively rare compared with their other green counterparts, since they only grow in specific places in the world, including in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. In a media release earlier this year, Kobe University in Japan confirmed that some fairy lanterns are being re-discovered and are still obtaining nutrients from other organisms.

While having green leaves and the ability to engage in photosynthesis are the main biological traits of plants, some flora on Earth have abandoned these key features, the university adds. One of the most recent rediscoveries took place in Japan, which led to the unearthing of the fairy lantern Thismia kobensis. Findings of the East Asian fairy lantern was published in the journal Phytotaxa in February 2023.

Thismia Malayana

In a more recent study published in the journal PhotoKeys in May 2024, researchers discovered a new plant species under the genus Thismia. The fairy lantern plant, called Thismia Malayana, was found in Peninsular Malaysia's two localities. The first site was in the lowlands of Gunung Angsi Forest Reserve in the state of Negeri Sembilan. The second is in Pahang state's Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve.

Just like other fairy lantern plants, T. Malayana is unable to produce chlorophyll and is not capable of photosynthesis, according to the research paper. However, authors of the study point out that the new plant species can grow and survive by feeding off the nutrients and water from underground fungi. Following these discoveries, scientists have not ruled out the existence of other fairy lantern plants in other parts of the world.