12 new plant species discovered in Sarawak

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem and his wife Puan Sri Jamilah Anu looking at the new begonia species named after Jamilah. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / THE STAR

KUCHING: Twelve new species of plants have been discovered in Sarawak's Batang Ai National Park and Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary. 

Among them is a begonia named Begonia jamilahanuiana after the Chief Minister's wife Puan Sri Jamilah Anu. 

It is one of nine new species of begonias to be discovered, along with an orchid species, a ginger species and a Marantaceae species. 

Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) chief executive Wong Ting Chung said the new species were found through its Rimba research project launched last year. 

"These discoveries were made by a joint survey team comprising scientists from SFC and the Singapore Botanical Gardens," he said when announcing the new species here on Thursday. 

He expressed appreciation to Jamilah for agreeing to have one of the newly discovered begonias named after her. 

Begonia jamilahanuiana can grow up to 60cm tall and is unusual in that it retains its white spots in adult plants, unlike other begonias.