Prominent FRIM botanist, Bapak Soepadmo, dies aged 83

For his contribution towards the enhancement of knowledge in flora and plant biodiversity in the South-East Asia region, Soepadmo was bestowed the prestigious Merdeka Award in 2012 as well as the Linnean Medal by The Linnean Society of London in 2015. Photos: Facebook/FRIM

Well-known FRIM botanist and ecologist Dr Engkik Soepadmo, fondly known as "Bapak" among fellow botanists and colleagues, passed away earlier today. He was 83.

Soepadmo was responsible for discovering 56 species of tropical plants and trees. His peers named six species of plants after him – Actinodaphne soepadmoi (Lauraceae), Aglaia soepadmoi (Meliaceae), Cinnamomum soepadmoi (Lauraceae), Ficus soepadmoi (Moraceae), Syzygium soepadmoi (Myrtaceae), and Vatica soepadmoi (Dipterocarpaceae).