Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Botanists identified a new flowering plant species across the forests of Assam and Meghalaya. Experts published the findings in the journal Novon. The team discovered Disporum kamakhasiense in three specific sites: Garbhanga Reserve Forest, Laisong in Dima Hasao, and Meghalaya’s Barapani area.
Researchers Dixit Bora, Biswajit Paul, Devanjal Bora, Aaron Floden, and Dipankar Borah authored the study. This perennial herb belongs to the Colchicaceae family. It stands out due to its impressive height. The plant reaches 180 cm, while its relative Disporum calcaratum only hits 100 cm. The species features branched stems, broad yellowish-green leaves, and star-shaped white flowers.
The scientists named the plant to honor Kamrupa and the Khasi Hills. It grows on cliffs under bamboo cover between 200 and 1,100 meters in elevation. It shares space with Peristylus constrictus and Phyllanthus varieties. Despite its unique traits, researchers worry about its future. They found only a few small populations with very low plant counts.
The study describes Disporum kamakhasiense as "potentially endangered", citing threats such as road expansion, over-exploitation and deforestation. The team demands more research to track the species. Its limited range makes the plant highly vulnerable to environmental change.
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