Four New Thai Plant Species Found, One Mimics Monkey Face

plant
The four new plant species of the Yard genus are part of the "Flora of Thailand" project.

BANGKOKResearchers from the Department of National Parks have introduced four new plant species that they have discovered, one of which has a strange flower resembling a monkey’s face. It is called “Yard Wanorn Pak” in Thai, which means “monkey’s face dewdrop.”

The four new plant species of the Yard genus include two species found in Saraburi, one in Rayong, and one in Lopburi. These plants grow in the specific ecosystem of limestone hills and are endangered and threatened with extinction.

A team of researchers from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, has discovered four new plant species worldwide belonging to the genus Yard.

These four new species, found in Saraburi (2 species), Rayong (1 species) and Lopburi (1 species), thrive in restricted areas of limestone hill ecosystems and are classified as threatened and endangered.

Advertisement

yard2
Microchirita simia (Photo by Naiyana Tetsana)

The research team, consisting of Mrs. Naina Tetsana, Mr. Phachoke Pudja, Mr. Thirawat Thananthaisong, Mr. Khunanon Daonurai and Mr. Samran Suddee from the Forest Herbarium, the Forest and Plant Conservation Research Office, and Mr. Krirkwit Poompayak, the manager of Khao Somphot Wildlife Sanctuary in Lopburi, worked together on the research.

The researchers followed botanical research methods and consulted with Dr. David Middleton, an expert on the Gesneriaceae family, confirmed that the plants belonged to the genus Microchirita.

The results were published in the international journal Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany), volume 52(2), pages 80-88, in 2024. There are 51-55 species of this genus worldwide, 41 of which occur in Thailand, making the country the central hub for the diversity of this genus.

The Four New Species:

Yard Wanorn Pak

Microchirita
Microchirita simia (Photo by Naiyana Tetsana)

Microchirita simia D. J. Middleton, Thananth, Tetsana & Suddee: Found in the limestone hills of Mueang district in Lopburi province. This herb grows up to 30 cm tall and has succulent stems that are reddish-purple in color throughout.

The upper petals and corolla tube are deep reddish-purple, while the lower petals are alternately light yellow and deep reddish-purple. The specific epithet “simia” is Latin for “monkey” and refers to the flower’s resemblance to the face of a monkey when viewed from the front. The type specimen Tetsana, Pudja, Kerdkaew, Hemrat & Jirakorn 2785 is kept at the Forest Herbarium.

Yard Orathai

Microchirita orathaiae Suddee, D. J. Middleton, Tetsana & Pudja: Found in the limestone hills of the Khao Chamao district in Rayong province. This herb grows up to 40 cm high. The specific epithet “orathaiae” is in honor of Mrs. Orathai Kerdkaew, a botanical illustrator who has contributed to the Flora of Thailand project for many years. The type specimen Tetsana, Suddee, Pudja, Thananthaisong, Hemrat, Phankien & Daonurai 2256 is kept at the Forest Herbarium.

yard3
Microchirita orathaiae (Photo by Naiyana Tetsana)

Yard Pra-Bhotisat

Microchirita radiata D. J. Middleton, Daonurai, Poompayak & Suddee: Found in the limestone hills of Kaeng Khoi district, Saraburi province. This herb grows up to 50 cm high. The specific epithet “radiata” refers to the brown lines that run radially in the corolla tube. The type specimen Thananthaisong, Poompayak, Udomsiripong, Khananthong & Daonurai 1000 is kept in the forest herbarium.

yard5
Microchirita radiata (Photo by Kerkwit Poompayak)

Yard Thamkraborg

Advertisement

Microchirita puglisiae D. J. Middleton, Daonurai, Poompayak & Suddee: Found in the limestone hills of Phra Phutthabat district, Saraburi province. This herb grows up to 30 cm high. The specific epithet “puglisiae” is in honor of Dr. Carmen Puglisi, an expert on several genera within the Gesneriaceae family, who contributed to research for the Flora of Thailand project.

These new plant species are part of the “Flora of Thailand” project, which aims to publish comprehensive data on all plant families occurring in Thailand.

yard6
Microchirita puglisiae (Photo by Kerkwit Poompayak)

___