British Botanist's Legacy: 150+ New Malaysian Plants

Ruth Kiew, a British-born botanist who dedicated her life to exploring Malaysia's rich flora, passed away recently at the age of 79. Throughout her extensive fieldwork, she discovered and named more than 150 previously unrecorded plant species, a testament to her profound impact on botanical science. Her tireless efforts in remote tropical forests earned her significant accolades.

Kiew's contributions were recognized globally when she received the David Fairchild Medal for Plant Exploration, an honor highlighting her adventurous spirit and scientific rigor. She became a prominent advocate for the conservation of Malaysia's unique ecosystems, particularly warning about the destructive impact of mining on delicate limestone hill habitats. Her work underscored the immense, often overlooked, value of plant diversity.

Originally from Cambridge, Kiew moved to Malaysia in 1969 for her doctoral research and ultimately became a Malaysian citizen, deeply connected to her adopted home. Her legacy includes several seminal books on Southeast Asian flora and a career spent illuminating the wonders of plant life, emphasizing its importance amidst growing environmental concerns.