Molecular gas near HD 104237 and ɛ Chamaeleontis.

We present the results of a search for molecular gas near the candidate Herbig Ae/Be star HD104237 and its common proper motion companion ɛ Cha. The molecular gas found near these stars is clumpy, of very low mass, and is far from virial equilibrium. Our results can be interpreted as providing evidence in favour of the pre-main sequence nature of HD104237 and, by implication, of ɛ Cha. We suggest that these stars may have recently cleared away the molecular cloud in which they have formed. The HD104237/ɛ Cha system may be an example of isolated intermediate mass star formation within the complex of Chamaeleon dark clouds.