New flora and fauna species found

The attractive purple flowers of the diminutive little herb, Gymnostachyum sp. nov. in the Acanthaceae family, which was discovered by FRIM in a recent plant survey of Zones C and D of Gunung Kanthan in Ipoh.

PETALING JAYA: Botanists have discovered two new plant species and a new species of gecko within an undisturbed portion of limestone forest on Gunung Kanthan that many fear will be quarried in the near future.

Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) plant taxonomist Dr Ruth Kiew said the new discoveries were further proof that the area, known as Zone C of Gunung Kanthan, near Ipoh, has critical conservation value.