Doomdooma: A small wildlife sanctuary in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district has yielded a notable botanical discovery, with researchers documenting the spiny-fruited wild cucumber Cucumis hystrix Chakrav. in the Bherjan-Borajan-Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary and reporting it as a new addition to Assam’s flora.
The discovery was made during a systematic study of the Cucurbitaceae, or gourd family, conducted by Daimalu Baro of Tinsukia College and Amal Bawri of the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research.
Their study, titled “Diversity of Cucurbitaceae Juss. in Bherjan-Borajan-Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, with Cucumis hystrix Chakrav. as a new addition to the state flora,” was published online on October 6, 2026, in Springer Nature’s journal Discover Plants.
The researchers carried out field surveys across the sanctuary during 2024-25, recording 12 species belonging to 10 genera of the Cucurbitaceae family.
The Cucumis hystrix specimen was documented in the Bherjan range at an elevation of around 130 metres. The researchers observed the plant flowering and producing fruit between August and January.
The survey also identified Indofevillea khasiana, Thladiantha cordifolia and Thladiantha hookeri as rare species in Assam.
The researchers said the finding demonstrates that significant botanical diversity can remain undocumented even within relatively small protected forest areas. They highlighted the sanctuary’s importance for conserving wild cucurbits and their genetic diversity.
Conservation concerns
The discovery is particularly significant given the limited size of the sanctuary. Bherjan-Borajan-Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary covers only around 7.21 square kilometres, yet supports a notable range of plant species.
Researchers cautioned that the forest fragment faces pressures from surrounding activities, including expanding tea plantations and oil-field operations, making continued conservation efforts important.
The study calls for in-situ conservation and additional floristic surveys to document and protect wild cucurbits and their genetic resources.
The species Cucumis hystrix is also recognised by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew as an accepted species native to Assam and parts of South and Southeast Asia.