Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: A research team led by Dipankar Borah of Kaliabor College in Nagaon has identified a new plant species, Begonia neelamorum, in the remote Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh. The team found the tuberous, single-leaf plant clinging to steep, moist walls 1,000 meters above sea level near the Keyi River. Borah, Madhusudhan Khanal, and G. Neelam collected the type specimen on May 24, 2026. Findings appear in the latest issue of the journal Taiwania.
This plant stands 10 to 20 cm tall with a solitary, light-green leaf. It features double-serrated margins, glandular hairs, and white flowers. While it shares some traits with Begonia prolifera, it differs through its terete stem, shorter styles, and unique inflorescence. The species marks the sixth addition to the Begonia section Monophyllon, bringing the total number of recorded Begonia species in Northeast India to 54.
The name honors the Neelam clan of the Nyishi tribe, who helped the team navigate a difficult expedition. It also pays tribute to the nearby Neelam village. Locals call the plant Kobiirhopu Baabrai. Researchers documented four populations covering 3 square kilometers. They officially tagged the species as Data Deficient under IUCN criteria due to its limited known range. Researchers believe the plant may exist in other unexplored valleys. The study stated that the plant was found during an expedition to a remote river valley, where researchers encountered an unusual single-leaf, tuberous Begonia.
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