New plant species discovered in Arunachal's Dibang valley

Guwahati: A team of scientists has uncovered a new species of flowering plant in the remote Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh.

The newly discovered species, named Begonia neisti, was discovered by Dr. Nazir Ahmad Bhat from the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), in collaboration with Bipankar Hajong and Dr. Pankaj Bharali, researchers from CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST).

Begonia neisti is a unique plant with variegated leaves featuring white-silver circular spots and dark brownish-red patches near vein junctions.

Its large leaves and a striking white stripe on the stems and petioles distinguish it from other known species in the Begonia genus.

The plant was found thriving in moist hilly slopes along the roads between Hunli and Anini and was observed flowering from November to January.

Advanced molecular phylogenetic analysis, using the ITS2 marker, confirmed the species' distinctness and its close evolutionary relationship with other Begonia species from the Indian subcontinent. The research findings have been published in the Nordic Journal of Botany.

Despite its recent discovery, Begonia neisti has been classified as Data Deficient (DD) according to the IUCN Red List criteria due to the potential threats posed by ongoing road expansion in its habitat. Conservation efforts are urgently needed to protect this valuable species.