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Botanists Discover New Plant Species in Arunachal’s Shi-Yomi District
Scientists found a plant that was previously unknown to science in Arunachal Pradesh.
They named it Didymocarpus nautiyalii.
The plant is very small, growing to about 8 centimetres tall.
It has leathery leaves and bluish-purple flowers.
It grows on wet rocks near waterfalls and roadside walls.
Researchers compared the plant with books, scientific papers and preserved plant samples.
They found that it was different from a similar species called Didymocarpus albiflorus.
Only two groups of the plant are known, with 19 flowering plants recorded.
Scientists say more study is needed to understand how rare and threatened it may be.
Botanists discovered Didymocarpus nautiyalii in Arunachal Pradesh’s Shi-Yomi district.
The new species belongs to the Gesneriaceae family and was formally described in Taiwania.
The small herb grows on moist rocks near walls and waterfalls above 1,000 metres.
Researchers recorded two known populations containing 19 flowering individuals.
The species is currently classified as Data Deficient, with further surveys and monitoring recommended.
- Who
- A team led by Madhusudhan Khanal of the G B Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, with researchers from Sikkim University, Kaliabor College and Jawaharlal Nehru College at Pasighat.
- What
- The team discovered and formally described a new plant species, Didymocarpus nautiyalii.
- Where
- Shi-Yomi district in Arunachal Pradesh, in subtropical evergreen forests above 1,000 metres.
- When
- The discovery was reported on September 29, and the species has recently been formally described in Taiwania.
- Why
- The discovery documents the botanical diversity of the Eastern Himalaya and identifies a species requiring further ecological and population studies.
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Didymocarpus nautiyalii
- Plant family
- Gesneriaceae
- Habitat
- Moist rock surfaces, roadside walls and areas near waterfalls in subtropical evergreen forests
- Elevation
- Above 1,000 metres
- Known populations
- Two
- Flowering individuals recorded
- 19
- Current assessment
- Data Deficient under IUCN Red List criteria
Sources
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