Sabah - Home To World's First Nickel Botanical Garden

KOTA KINABALU,  Sept 14  (Bernama) -- Sabah is proud to be home to the world’s first Nickel Botanical Garden, located at the Monggis Ranau Substation, about 150 kilometres from here.

Head of Hyperaccumulator Garden Project, Sabah Parks, Sukaibin Sumail, who is a botanist, told Bernama that the one-hectare garden is part of Kinabalu Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

He said the garden is home to 12 species of nickel-accumulating plants that are considered rare in Sabah and the world.

These include Phyllanthus rufuschaneyi, Phyllanthus balgooyi,  Actephila alanbakeri, Rinorea bengalensis, Walsura pinnata, Mischocarpus sundaicus, Phyllanthus kinabaluicus, Psychotria sarmentosa, Xylosma luzonensis, Glochidion sp, Glochidion sp 2 and Rinorea cf. javanica.

"There are two ways to test for the presence of metals in the leaves of this plant - by using detector paper containing the chemical Dimethylglyoxime (DMG) and by using a handheld X-ray fluorescence analyser," he said.

Sukaibin explained that hyperaccumulation refers to the natural ability of certain plants to absorb substances from the soil, including metallic elements such as nickel. In excessive amounts, compounds like nickel tetracarbonyl can be extremely toxic.

Nickel itself is a hard, silvery-white metal and one of the most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust and core. It is also commonly found in meteorites and widely used in the production of stainless steel and electric vehicle batteries.

The Nickel Botanical Garden was officially opened on June 14, 2014, as an arboretum — a dedicated area where various tree species are planted and maintained for scientific research, conservation, education, and recreational purposes before being formally documented.

Using Xylosma Luzonensis as an example, Sukaibin said the plant grows up to three metres tall and thrives in open, sunlit areas. However, no scientific data currently supports its potential for pharmaceutical applications.

"In botany, this plant shows promise as an ornamental species for landscaping, particularly in ultramafic soil areas, while also helping to control soil erosion," he said, adding that Sabah Parks has been introducing the plant to school students through nature awareness programmes since last year.

At present, he said, detailed studies have yet to be conducted to determine how the plant absorbs nickel — whether entirely naturally or through other mechanisms.

Sukaibin noted that, in general, the plant contains chemical compounds such as flavonoids and terpenoids, but the presence of nickel can pose risks to living organisms, including humans and animals.

He said that the Xylosma Luzonensis tree, which has small hairy flowers and is wind-pollinated, is not yet categorised as endangered. Nonetheless, conservation efforts are being carried out at the Monggis Substation arboretum to protect the species.

"This tree is easy to grow and effective in controlling soil erosion, but it is not suitable for medicinal use. Its economic potential has also not yet been studied in depth to determine whether it could generate income," he said, adding that Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) has also been involved in planting initiatives.

Last July, one of the plants in the garden, Xylosma Luzonensis from the Salicaceae family, was showcased at the Borneo Flora Festival in Labuan. During the event, the writer was allowed to test for the presence of nickel in the plant’s leaves.

Sukaibin, who was present at the exhibition, demonstrated the process by using special paper moistened with water. After a few seconds, the leaves pressed into the paper turned pink — indicating the presence of nickel. The leaves were oval-shaped and covered with fine hairs.

Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, who officiated the programme, was also given the opportunity to test for the presence of nickel on the leaves of the plant.

-- BERNAMA