The species, identified by scientists from the Botanical Survey of India and Agharkar Research Institute, was discovered in East Kameng district.
Guwahati: Scientists have discovered a new species of flowering plant in Arunachal Pradesh, with only 25 mature individuals recorded so far, highlighting both the eastern Himalaya’s hidden biodiversity and its growing conservation risks.
The species, named Strobilanthes riteshii, was discovered during botanical surveys near Chayangtajo village in East Kameng district, at an elevation of around 1,600 metres. The research was led by Krishna Chowlu, Akshath Shenoy, Geetika Sukhramani, Ajit Ray and Althaf Ahamed Kabeer from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, and has been published in the Indian Journal of Forestry.
The plant has been named in honour of Dr Ritesh Kumar Choudhary, a noted plant taxonomist from the Agharkar Research Institute, in recognition of his contributions to plant taxonomy and molecular systematics.
Found along forest streams
The newly described species belongs to the genus Strobilanthes, a diverse group of plants known for their striking flowers and mass-flowering cycles. Researchers found Strobilanthes riteshii growing on open, hilly slopes near forest streams and small waterfalls, habitats that are often under-documented despite being biodiversity-rich.
Although the plant bears a close resemblance to Strobilanthes gigantea, a species described from Arunachal Pradesh only recently, detailed morphological study revealed consistent differences in its growth habit, leaf structure and floral features.
To confirm its identity, the team carried out DNA-based phylogenetic analysis, which showed that the species is genetically distinct, though closely related to species found in India, China and Tibet—pointing to the eastern Himalaya’s role as a key biogeographical corridor.
Conservation concerns at the time of discovery
What makes the discovery particularly significant is the species’ extreme rarity. At the type locality, scientists recorded fewer than 25 mature plants, all confined to a small area vulnerable to human disturbance.
The habitat faces mounting pressure from road-widening projects, shifting (jhum) cultivation, and pollution of nearby streams. Given the lack of information on its wider distribution, the species has been provisionally assessed as Data Deficient under IUCN Red List criteria, signalling the need for urgent follow-up surveys.
As an early conservation step, individuals of Strobilanthes riteshii have already been maintained at the Botanical Survey of India’s Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre.
Why the discovery matters
India hosts around 168 species of Strobilanthes, with the Himalayan and Northeast Indian region accounting for nearly half of this diversity. Arunachal Pradesh alone is now home to at least 44 species, several of which have been described only in recent years.
The discovery of Strobilanthes riteshii reinforces the scientific view that large parts of Northeast India remain botanically under-explored, even as development activities accelerate across fragile mountain ecosystems.
For scientists, the find adds a crucial piece to understanding plant evolution in the Himalaya. For conservationists, it is a reminder that species can be on the brink of extinction the moment they are discovered.