Itanagar: The researchers from the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR), which is based in Pasighat, have discovered a new plant species from forest areas of Mayodia in Arunachal Pradesh.
According to the researchers, the plant species, ‘Ophiorrhiza gajureliana,’ belongs to the Rubiaceae family and the Ophiorrhiza genus.
The plant species is named in honour of Prof Padma Raj Gajurel, a faculty member at the Nirjuli-based North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology (NERIST), for his significant contributions to plant and ethnobotanical research in the Eastern Himalayas, the NEIAFMR officials said.
On September 8, 2023, the NEIAFMR research team, led by scientist Dr. Amal Bawri, embarked on an expedition to document medicinal plants in Lower Dibang Valley district.
During field explorations, the team came across an Ophiorrhiza species growing on hill slopes near a waterfall.
The herbarium specimens were collected, processed and prepared using conventional taxonomic techniques. The specimens were then deposited at NEIAFMRH, and their identification was completed by reviewing pertinent literature.
Currently recorded from only one small area on the hill slopes in the Lower Dibang Valley district, the total known population of the plant is estimated to consist of fewer than 100 mature individuals.
According to experts, the extent of occurrence of the species is less than 100 square kilometres, and the major threats include landslides.
The team evaluated the taxon as critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature‘s (IUCN’s) categories and criteria, based on the available data (IUCN 2001 and 2012).
ALSO READ: ‘Eaglenest Bird Festival’ to put spotlight on Arunachal Pradesh rich biodiversity
The researchers emphasized that immediate conservation measures are crucial to prevent the plant’s extinction. Locally, people use crushed flowers to extract juice for cough remedies.
