BRIN identifies three new Homalomena species in Sumatra
Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, known as BRIN, said on Tuesday it has identified three new species of the Homalomena genus endemic to Sumatra, expanding scientific understanding of tropical plant diversity in Southeast Asia.
The discovery was made in collaboration with Herbarium Bandungense and the School of Life Sciences and Technology at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).
The three species, discovered by BRIN’s Center for Biosystematics and Evolution researcher Muhammad Rifqi Hariri together with Arifin Surya Dwipa Irsyam, are named Homalomena pachyderma A.S.D. Irsyam & M.R. Hariri, Homalomena pulopadangensis A.S.D. Irsyam & M.R. Hariri, and Homalomena uncinata A.S.D. Irsyam & M.R. Hariri, according to a study published in the international journal Telopea, Volume 30 (2026).
BRIN researcher Muhammad Rifqi Hariri said the specimens were identified through ornamental plant trade activity on social media, where collectors and hobbyists shared plants with unusual morphological characteristics.
“Digital platforms are now one of the initial entry points for identifying potential new species, especially ornamental plants circulating among collectors,” Hariri said.
He added that the three species display distinct morphological traits that differentiate them from other Homalomena species in Sumatra.
Homalomena pachyderma is characterized by thick leaves with a papillate upper surface. Homalomena pulopadangensis has narrow leaves with thicker genicula and claviform staminodes, while Homalomena uncinata is distinguished by unique hook-shaped hairs on the upper leaf surface.
These differences formed the basis for classifying them as new species, Hariri said.
Researchers said the species originate from North Sumatra and are likely to have limited distribution, suggesting they may be endemic to the region.
Most specimens studied came from cultivated plants collected from the wild and later grown in nurseries before scientific analysis.
Notably, Homalomena uncinata has been circulating among plant collectors in Japan for about nine years, although its origin and legality remain unclear, according to the study.
The findings highlight the role of plant nurseries and hobbyist communities in helping uncover undocumented biodiversity.
The research reinforces Sumatra’s position as one of the key centers of Homalomena diversity in Southeast Asia.
The study, titled “Taxonomic contributions to the genus Homalomena (Araceae) in Western Malesia: three new species from Sumatra discovered through the ornamental plant trade,” was published in Telopea (2026). It is available via DOI: 10.7751/telopea21461.
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Translator: Sean Filo Muhamad, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak