Three New Homalomena Species Found in Sumatra, This is its Uniqueness

JAKARTA - Recent research has again shown how rich Indonesia's biodiversity is, which has not been fully revealed. From the forests of Sumatra, researchers have managed to identify new plant species that have not been scientifically recorded, and some of them are even more familiar among plant enthusiasts.

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) together with the Bandungense Herbarium team from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) discovered three new species of aroid plants from the genus Homalomena. This discovery was made by BRIN researcher Muhammad Rifqi Hariri together with Arifin Surya Dwipa Irsyam.

The three species were each named Homalomena pachyderma, Homalomena pulopadangensis, and Homalomena uncinata. These findings have been published in the international journal Telopea Volume 30 in 2026.

Rifqi revealed that the initial identification of this species actually came from observing the trade of ornamental plants on social media. He saw a plant with an unusual morphological character and had never been described before.

"Digital platforms are now one of the initial entry points for recognizing the potential of new species, especially from ornamental plants that are circulating among collectors," he said.

Furthermore, he explained that the three species have distinctive characteristics that distinguish them from other types of Homalomena in Sumatra. Homalomena pachyderma has thick leaves with a textured surface, while Homalomena pulopadangensis is characterized by a narrower leaf shape and a certain structure that is thicker. As for Homalomena uncinata, it has the uniqueness of a hook-shaped hair on the surface of its leaves.

According to Rifqi, the morphological differences are the main basis for establishing the three as new species. Research also shows that these three plants are from the North Sumatra region and are suspected of having a limited distribution, so they have the potential to be endemic species.

Most of the specimens studied came from cultivated plants that were originally taken from nature, then maintained in nurseries before being further studied. Interestingly, one of the species, Homalomena uncinata, is known to have circulated to Japan since about nine years ago, although the origin of its distribution is not entirely clear.

Rifqi assessed that this finding also showed that the role of the plant and collection hobby community in nurseries is very important in helping to uncover the wealth of biodiversity that has not been scientifically documented.

This research also further confirms the position of Sumatra as one of the centers of diversity of the genus Homalomena in Southeast Asia, as well as opening up opportunities for the discovery of other new species in the future.