The whole plant is completely white translucent and the flower is strigose with white trichomes covering the outer surface of the perianth tube and ovary; the apex of the perianth tube is partially covered by the apical part of flower tube with a ring-like annulus and together with six perianth lobes are upright and curve inwards with a dorsal long appendage on each lobe.

MALAYSIA. Peninsular Malaysia: Terengganu, Kuala Berang District, Hulu Telemong Forest Reserve, ca 207 m alt., 22 Nov 2018, Dome Nikong, FRI 91111 (holotype KEP!).

Terrestrial, achlorophyllous, whitish herb to 9 cm tall. Roots vermiform brownish with white apices. Stems erect (sometimes curved), unbranched, 0.2 to 2.5 cm long, glabrous with ridges. Leaves scale-like, appressed, 2–7 mm long, 2 mm wide, smaller at the base leaf increasing in size above, alternate, single, triangular to lanceolate, translucent white, apex acute or acuminate, base appressed. Internodes 4–10 mm. Involucral bracts 3, translucent white, ca. 1–1.2 cm long, lanceolate, apex acute to acuminate, margin entire, base appressed, with a central vein. Bud to 7 mm long, pale to dark purple. Pedicel 4–5 mm long. Flowers solitary to 7–8 cm long (including appendages); perianth lobes 6, each 3 × 2 mm (excluding appendage), obovate to spathulate are upright and curve inwards over perianth chamber, apex truncate, with erect subulate appendage abaxially, ca. 3.5–5.5 cm long, ca. 0.5 mm wide, cylindric, apex rounded or falcate; perianth tube bowl-like, 5–5.5 mm long, 3–6 mm wide, narrowed just above the ovary, widest just below the lobes, white translucent, outer surface with longitudinal ribs covered with numerous white translucent thick trichomes; apical part of perianth tube with annulus and opening circular aperture ca. 2 mm in diameter, from above ring-like, whitish, glabrous, Stamens 6, pendulous attached to the inner wall of perianth tube, ca. 2.5 mm long, apex lobed with 3 apical appendages with glandular tip (visible in fresh plant); filaments short, free, white, each with two rounded oblong thecae facing the inner wall of the perianth tube; anthers oblong, 2 mm long; lateral appendage box-shaped; ovary inferior, cup-shaped, ca. 4 mm long, whitish to brownish, outer surface smooth, without longitudinal ribs, covered with numerous white translucent thick trichomes, unilocular with 3 parietal placentas; style ca. 0.5 mm long; stigmas 3, ca. 0.6 mm long, oblong, papillate, 3-lobed, lobes slightly folded, apex truncate. Fruit cup-shaped, translucent white.

Endemic in Peninsular Malaysia, Terengganu. Currently known only from the type collection.

In lowland dipterocarp forest on wet, moist soil in shade at an altitude of 207 m. Flowering in November-December. This new species was encountered on bamboo leaf litter near an elephant trail. When mature T. domei produces an unpleasant smell like rotting fish.

The species is named after Mr Dome Nikong, professional photographer and freelance researcher, who first discovered this species and the other new species described below as well as T. javanica.

Critically Endangered (B2 ab(iii)). Following the 2012 IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, (IUCN 2012), this species is assessed as critically endangered because it is only known from the type locality. It is very rare. Fewer than 10 individuals were observed, which included both flowering and fruiting individuals. The type locality is within a forest reserve in disturbed forest area near the river bank at an elevation of c. 207 m. The species is under threat because selective logging activities are currently on-going within the forest reserve.

Thismia domei, based on colour, is most like T. clavarioides K.Thiele (Thiele and Jordan 2002) and Thismia taiwanensis S.-Z. Yang, R. M. K. Saunders & C.-J. Hsu, (Yang et al. 2002). Both have completely white perianth lobes that are upright and curved inwards towards the perianth tube with an appendage on each lobe. However, T. domei differs from these species in that its perianth tube is fully covered with thick trichomes and it has six perianth lobes each with an appendage as opposed to being completely glabrous and T. taiwanensis from Taiwan has only three perianth lobes with appendages and the perianth of T. clavarioides forms a mitre from Australia. T. domei is unusual in its conspicuous cell inclusion white spot which appear to be aleurone grains.

Figure 1. 

Thismia domei Siti-Munirah A habit (A1 roots A2 tip of filiform appendages), B top view of plant C perianth tube covered with trichomes (C1 trichome C2 white spots D top view of flower showing perianth lobes overlapping and appendages on the each lobes forming loose mitre E top perianth tube covered with apical part of flower tube and annulus F longitudinal section of flower (F1 base perianth tube and ovary) G perianth lobes from outside H perianth lobes from inside I pendulous stamen attached to the inner wall of perianth tube (abaxial view of stamens) J pendulous stamen attached to the inner wall of perianth tube (adaxial view of stamens) (J1 stamen from side view J2 three appendages at apical margin) K ovary showing stigma (K1 ovary). Photo credit: A, A1, B, C, C1, D, F, G, H, J, J1, J2, K Dome Nikong; A2, C2, E, F1, I, K1 Siti-Munirah MY.

Figure 2. 

Thismia domei Siti-Munirah A, B habit of two plants C leaf D bract E perianth lobes from top F top view of apical part of perianth tube with annulus G inner adaxial view of six pendulous stamens H stamen attached to perianth tube I a perianth lobe with perianth tube from side view J ovary with stigma and placenta (below). All from Dome Nikong FRI 91111. Drawn by M. Aidil. The drawing is based on spirit material.

Figure 3. 

Thismia domei. A, B habitat on leaf litter within a bamboo clump (plant indicated by red arrow) C habit of the flowering T. domei D Mr Dome Nikong showing T. domei at different stages of anthesis E habit of T. domei. Photo credit: Dome Nikong.

Thismia terengganuensis is unique in its perfect mitre with the long filiform appendages not seen in any other species of Thismia. It has a racemose sessile inflorescence with large bracts. Its flower parts are brownish with brown striae with inner perianth lobes forming a dark brown mitre with a white slender appendage attached at apex. The outer perianth lobes at interval appear like a wing. It has creeping vermiform brown roots.

MALAYSIA. Peninsular Malaysia: Terengganu, Kuala Berang District, Hulu Telemong Forest Reserve, ca 227 m alt., 2 Dec 2018, Dome Nikong, FRI 91112 (holotype KEP!).

Small perennial achlorophyllous herbs. Roots creeping, vermiform, brown. Stem white, 3–3.5 cm long, ascending, glabrous. Leaves scale-like, triangular, ca. 3 mm long, apex acute, alternate. Bracts many, large, 1–1.5 cm long, crowded. Pedicel short or up to 3–4 cm long. Inflorescence racemose. Flowers sessile, perianth tube urceolate, ca. 1 cm long, 5 mm wide in the upper third, brownish-white, with inconspicuous brown longitudinal stripes from upper part to the base. Apex of perianth tube covered with the dark brown apical part of perianth tube, circular, slightly raised annulus with opening aperture ca. 2 mm in diameter. Perianth lobes divided into 2 types; inner perianth lobes 3, erect, convergent to connate at apex, forming a mitre, dark brown, each with long and slender filiform appendages, 5–7 cm long; outer perianth lobes 3, recurved, all equal in shape and size, long triangular, boat-like, 4–5 mm long, 2 mm wide at base, white, tapering into curved apex. Stamens 6, brownish white; filaments short, free, attached to the mouth of the perianth tube, curved downwards; connectives blunt (tongue-like), without apical appendages; thecae yellow, not connected; lateral appendage skirt-like. Ovary white, cup-shaped, inferior, free central placentation; style short; stigma 3-lobed, papillose. Fruit cup-shaped, brownish.

Endemic in Peninsular Malaysia, Terengganu. Currently only known from the type locality.

In lowland dipterocarp forest on wet, moist soil in shade at altitude 227 m. Flowering in November-December on forest floor under canopy of dense shrubs.

The epithet refers to the state, Terengganu, where it was found.

Critically Endangered (B2 ab(iii)). Following the 2012 IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, (IUCN 2012), this species is assessed as critically endangered because it is only known from one locality where less than 5 individuals flowering and fruiting individuals were observed. Thismia terengganuensis is currently known only from the type locality and is certainly a very rare species. The locality is within the forest reserve but is threatened by selective logging activities within the forest reserve that are currently ongoing.

Thismia terengganuensis is most similar to species in sect. Sarcosiphon and sect. Geomitra in the shape of the perianth tube and mitre but differs in all other morphological parts, e.g. in its slender filiform appendages on the apex of mitre and also its connectives that are blunt without any apical appendages.

Figure 4. 

Thismia terengganuensis Siti-Munirah A habit of flowering and fruiting plants B top view of plant C root and stems D perianth tube E perianth lobes (inner forming a mitre, outer curved) F ovary with pistil (stigma) G fruits with seeds H stamens attached to the inner wall of mouth of the perianth tube (adaxial view) I stamens deflexed (abaxial view). Photo credit: A–D, G Dome Nikong; E, F, H, I Siti-Munirah MY.

Figure 5. 

Thismia terengganuensis Siti-Munirah A flower and fruit B habit of fruiting plant C leaf D bracts E stamens (adaxial view) F stamens (abaxial view) G ovary showing free central placentation H stigma. All from Dome Nikong FRI 91112. Drawn by M. Aidil.

Figure 6. 

Thismia terengganuensis A habitat B habit of a fading T. terengganuensis plant. Photo credit: Dome Nikong.