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The tropical forests of Peninsular Malaysia are truly a treasure trove of biodiversity. They are home to over 8,300 species of plants, 195 species of mammals, 638 species of birds and 529 species of freshwater fish. Reptiles account for 320 species, and amphibians, another 199 species. Insects, alone, are estimated at 70,000 species. Finally, fungi, recently separated from the plant kingdom, remain largely a mystery as only an estimated 30% of the taxa have been documented.

It comes as no surprise then, that scientists the world over have long viewed Malaysia as a rich resource of genetic material, a living repository of novel and exciting data, and among the final hiding places of a myriad of new species still awaiting discovery.

As the custodians of this priceless resource, we are responsible for its management and sustainable use or it will gradually diminish and vanish forever.

In 1995 Dr. Ian Turner, published the first checklist of the plants of Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia & Singapore) in the Singapore Gardens' Bulletin. Based on an examination of over 700 botanical references, this two-volume set lists all of the native and naturalized plant species in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. The original hardcopy document has been converted into an electronic database containing 8893 records, and has been periodically updated and revised to reflect new discoveries and taxonomic changes.

Under Flora Malaysiana Centre Project 7, supported by the Timber Levy Fund, the Tropical Forest Biodiversity Centre at FRIM has developed a web environment to house this database and an interface to make it available to interested parties in Malaysia and around the world.

Upon registration, users can access an alphabetically listed database of the Flora of Peninsular Malaysia. A powerful and intelligent search tool helps users to home in on the precise information for which they are searching. One need not remember the full scientific name of a species to conduct a search; a fragment is all that is required. Need to know what species of Etlingera have been recoded from the state of Pahang? Perhaps you are specifically interested in Etlingera elatior!

Step 1. Simply enter your search criteria and click on the search button. Habit, Habitat, Location and Conservation status criteria also be used to narrow the search.

Step 2. Click on an individual record to open a window on that particular species. Information on authorship, habit, habitat and distribution are provided. In the case of this particular species, additionally, photographs are currently available and may be viewed in a separate window.

Using this search tool, a comprehensive checklist of the endemic flora species of Peninsular Malaysia is literally seconds away.

The Flora of Peninsular Malaysia Online will serve as a vital research, education and management resource for plant enthusiasts, researchers, policymakers, students and the business community, not just in Malaysia , but around the world. In addition, it will move Malaysia closer to meeting its data sharing commitments under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Montage: The official launch of Flora of Peninsular M'sia Online   Click here

Most importantly, however, it will function as a powerful information resource and planning tool in the effort to conserve and sustainable manage our national botanical heritage.