Material examined. MALAYSIA – Sandakan • Tongod, Gunung Tingkar; 05°18′00″N, 117°07′45″E; 167.64 m elev.; 24 August 1992; K. M. Wong & Joseph Radin WKM 2215 (SAN).
Identification. Tawaia sabahensis is the only species in Tawaia and is unique by the combination of globose thecae and spathulate interpistillar staminodes. In overall aspect, by the nodding spathe on a long, slender peduncle, and by the spathe limb hardly opening at pistillate anthesis and deliquescing acroscopically, spathe recurved and abscises, remained with a 5 mm rim beyond the junction of upper spathe and the persistent lower spathe, upper spathe then marcescent and was partially attached on the persistent lower spathe, thence browning and marcescent during staminate anthesis (Low et al. 2018).
Distribution and ecology. Endemic to Sabah. Occurs as an obligate rheophyte on ultramafic (ultrabasic) river boulders and waterfalls under moist lowland forest, elevation between 135 and 300 m.