Schismatoglottis imbakensis is a species of plant that was discovered during a scientific expedition to the Sungai Kangkawat, Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA), Tongod District, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. The plant was first described in 2020, during an exhibition led by scientists from the Sabah Foundation and the University of Malaysia Sabah.
In 2020, scientists from the Sabah Foundation and the University of Malaysia Sabah led a group on a Borneo Geographic Scientific Expedition to the Sungai Kangkawat where they discovered the Schismatoglottis imbakensis. A small colony of the venation Schimatoglottis was found during the trip at the Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA). This specific Schimatoglottis species makes up the majority of the Patentinervia Clade. The Patentinervia clade is unique in that it is entirely Borean in origin and has peculiar characteristics such as short, obovate leaf blades without posterior lobes, and a ladder-like appearance. At the time of its discovery, the Schismatoglottis imbakensis was sterile and residing on an ultrabasic rock. Due to a distinctive appearance, discovery location, UMS prototype, and holotype BORH 2705, researchers came to the conclusion that this new undescribed species actually belonged to the Patentinerva Clade and was given the name Schismatoglottis imbakensis.[1] [2]
Physically, Schismatoglottis imbakensis is described as a mesophytic herb that forms tiny colonies and can reach heights of up to 10 cm. Epigeal stems, erect spreading, decumbent sections that tend to root along their length, modules that are pleionanthic, internodes that are 0.2-1 cm long and green are some of its distinguishing features.[1]
The Schimatoglottis imbakensis inhabits primary lowland mixed dipterocarp forest on Cretaceous Harzburgite and Serpentinite outcrops, located about 270 meters above the flood zone on steep, muddy river banks.[1]