Eriobotrya balgooyi (Rosaceae), a new obligate ultramafic endemic from Kinabalu Park, Borneo

A new species of Eriobotrya, named Eriobotrya balgooyi (Rosaceae), has been discovered in Kinabalu Park, Malaysian Borneo. This obligate ultramafic endemic is restricted to ultramafic soils on Mount Kinabalu and nearby Mount Tambuyukon, both within the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The discovery highlights the significant but understudied flora of ultramafic outcrops in northern Borneo, emphasizing the need for urgent conservation efforts. Taxonomic analysis using herbarium material from multiple collections confirmed its novelty.

Wong, K. M., & van der Ent, A. (2014). Eriobotrya balgooyi (Rosaceae), a new obligate ultramafic endemic from Kinabalu Park, Borneo. Plant Ecology and Evolution, 147(1), 134–140. https://doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2014.938