Guwahati: A team of researchers has discovered a new plant species in Manipur’s Kamjong district, naming it Dillenia nagalim in a nod to the land of the Naga tribes where it was found.
The species was documented by Sochanngam Kashung, Urikkhimbam Leishilembi, Kholi Kaini, Rachel Sochui Maheo, Tilling Rupa, Gladyso Kashung, Kerene Gangmei, Kreni Lokho, and Kazhuhrii Eshuo, and has been published in Phytotaxa.
The name “nagalim” is derived from “Naga” (referring to the indigenous Naga communities) and “lim,” meaning land, reflecting the plant’s origin in a region predominantly inhabited by the Tangkhul Naga tribe near the Indo-Myanmar border.
Discovered during field surveys between 2024 and 2025 in Choro village, the species is currently known only from a single location, making it endemic to the area. Researchers say the find underscores the rich yet understudied biodiversity of Northeast India.
Dillenia nagalim is a small shrub growing up to about 1.2 metres, with bright yellow flowers and distinctive double-serrated leaves. While it resembles related species such as Dillenia pentagyna and Dillenia hookeri, it differs in several features, including its shorter size, larger flowers, and a higher number of stamens and carpels.
To confirm it as a new species, the team combined traditional plant morphology with DNA analysis using the rbcL gene. The molecular data supported its classification as a distinct species within the Dilleniaceae family.
The plant grows in open tropical deciduous forests at altitudes of 250–350 metres and flowers between May and June. However, scientists warn that its survival is under threat.
Because of its extremely limited range and increasing human activity in the region, the species has been provisionally classified as “Critically Endangered” under IUCN criteria. Habitat disturbance and land-use changes pose immediate risks to its existence.
The study also notes that local communities are familiar with the plant. Its tender leaves are eaten as vegetables, while the fruits are edible and described as having a sweet, pungent flavour.
Researchers say the discovery highlights the ecological importance of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and stresses the urgent need for conservation. They add that more such species may still remain undocumented in the remote forests of the Northeast, even as they face growing environmental pressures.