Guwahati: Researchers from Gauhati University have identified a new plant species in Assam and named it after celebrated Assamese singer Zubeen Garg in recognition of his contributions to culture and advocacy for nature conservation.
The newly discovered species, Osbeckia zubeengargiana, belongs to the Melastomataceae family and was found in the grassland ecosystems of Manas National Park.
The discovery was made by researchers Barnali Das, Prashob Pulpra and Namita Nath during floristic surveys conducted between 2021 and 2025. The exploration formed part of a doctoral research project focusing on the Melastomataceae family in Assam.
According to the researchers, the species shows similarities with Osbeckia rostrata but differs in several morphological traits, including leaf structure, flower arrangement, hypanthium shape and seed size.
The plant is described as a perennial erect shrub that can grow up to 3.5 metres in height and produces distinctive pink tetramerous flowers.
Specimens of the species were collected from grassland areas of Manas National Park in Baksa district, where researchers observed a relatively large population.
The plant typically flowers and bears fruit between mid-September and January and is commonly found alongside species such as Chrysopogon zizanioides, Maesa indica, Bombax ceiba and Dillenia pentagyna in the region’s grassland habitats.
The species has been named Osbeckia zubeengargiana to honour Zubeen Garg for his contributions to Assamese culture as a singer, lyricist, filmmaker and poet, as well as his support for environmental awareness.
Researchers said the discovery enriches the botanical diversity of Assam and contributes to scientific knowledge of the genus Osbeckia, which is widely distributed across Southeast Asia and includes several endemic species in India’s Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats.