Sabah Unveils World’s First Nickel Botanical Garden

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 14 — Sabah has earned global recognition as the home of the world’s first Nickel Botanical Garden, located at the Monggis Ranau Substation, about 150 kilometres from here.

The one-hectare garden, officially opened on June 14, 2014, forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kinabalu Park. It serves as an arboretum — a dedicated area for the planting and preservation of tree species for scientific research, conservation, education, and recreation.

Sabah Parks Trustee Board member and botanist Sukaibin Sumail said the garden is home to 12 species of nickel-accumulating plants, which are considered rare both in Sabah and globally.

Among them are 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.

Sabah, a state in Malaysia, has established the world’s first botanical garden dedicated to nickel-hyperaccumulating plants. Located within Kinabalu Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this one-hectare garden showcases plants with the unique ability to absorb and store high levels of nickel from the soil

Detecting Nickel in Plants

According to Sukaibin, the presence of metals in plant leaves can be detected using dimethylglyoxime (DMG) detector paper or a handheld X-ray fluorescence analyser.

He explained that hyperaccumulation refers to the natural ability of certain plants to absorb metallic elements from the soil, including nickel. While nickel is widely used in stainless steel production and electric vehicle batteries, excessive compounds such as nickel tetracarbonyl can be toxic.

The Case of Xylosma Luzonensis

Using Xylosma luzonensis as an example, Sukaibin said the tree grows up to three metres tall and thrives in open, sunlit areas, particularly in ultramafic soils.

Although it does not yet show potential for pharmaceutical applications, the species is valued in landscaping and soil erosion control. Sabah Parks has also introduced the plant to school students through environmental awareness programmes.

“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,” he said, adding that conservation work continues at the Monggis arboretum with support from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).

Showcased at Borneo Flora Festival

In July, Xylosma luzonensis was showcased at the Borneo Flora Festival in Labuan, where visitors witnessed live demonstrations of nickel detection. When leaves were pressed onto moistened DMG test paper, they turned pink within seconds — a clear sign of nickel presence.

Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, who officiated the event, also took part in testing the plant’s leaves.

Conservation and Global Significance

Although Xylosma luzonensis is not currently classified as endangered, Sabah Parks is prioritising conservation and research to better understand the ecological role and potential applications of nickel-hyperaccumulating plants.

“This garden positions Sabah as a leader in scientific conservation and raises awareness about the unique biodiversity of Kinabalu Park,” Sukaibin said. – Bernama