‘Once-in-a-lifetime discovery’: Scientists find rare palm that flowers and bears fruits underground

Researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens (RGB), Kew and their partners have found what is described as the only known member of the palm family which flowers and fruits almost entirely underground. The findings of the study were published in the journal PALMS on Monday. Given the plant’s unique characteristics, researchers have named the new-to-science species Pinanga subterranea, which means ‘underground’ in Latin.

The plant and its fruit are native to the tropical island of Borneo in Southeast Asia where it is well-known to locals, some of whom even consume the bright-red fruit which is said to be sweet and juicy.  

However, P.subterranea was overlooked by scientists for years now, who have found some 300 different species of palm on the island. The plant is known in at least three Bornean languages under the names, Pinang Tanah, Pinang Pipit, Muring Pelandok, and Tudong Pelandok, by the locals. 

The international team of researchers said that the plant can be found across the primary rainforests of western Borneo and scattered across the borders from Malaysia’s Sarawak to Indonesia’s Kalimantan. 

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