Researchers Discover New Plant Species in Arunachal Pradesh Wildlife Sanctuary

GG News Bureau
Itanagar, 18th July. Officials from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have announced the discovery of a new plant species in Arunachal Pradesh’s Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Named ‘Phlogacanthus Sudhansusekharii’, the species belongs to the ‘Acanthaceae’ family within the ‘Phlogacanthus’ genus.

Dr. Sudhansu Sekhar Dash, a distinguished scientist at BSI, has been honored with the naming of this species in recognition of his substantial contributions to plant and ecological research in the Indian Himalayan region.

According to BSI officials, the detailed research paper documenting the discovery has been published in the Indian Journal of Forestry by authors Samrat Goswami and Rohan Maity. The genus ‘Phlogacanthus’, known for its presence in India with 13 species, primarily thrives in the northeastern and eastern Himalayan states.

An official from BSI highlighted the distinguishing features of ‘Phlogacanthus Sudhansusekharii’, noting its unique characteristics compared to closely related species like ‘Phlogacanthus Guttatus (Wall) Nees’. These differences mainly manifest in the shape and size of the calyx, staminodes, and notably, the corona color.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed enthusiasm over the discovery, emphasizing Arunachal Pradesh’s rich biodiversity.

In a social media post, he remarked, “The biodiversity of Arunachal Pradesh is wide & varied. In addition to the findings of new flora, researchers from @bsi_moefcc have identified a new plant species, named Phlogacanthus sudhansusekharii, in the Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary. This discovery reminds us of our rich natural heritage & our responsibility to preserve it for future generations.”