Researchers of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, have discovered a new endangered species of plant belonging to the African Violets family in Mizoram and its adjacent areas in Myanmar.
The newly-described species Didymocarpus vickifunkiae (Gesneriaceae) is currently known to grow in three locations in the frontier state Mizoram. It is an epiphyte, Plants that grow on trees, and produce Light pink flowers during monsoon. The species is named in honour of Dr Vicki Ann Funk, a renowned botanist, who worked at the Smithsonian Institute, USA.
Along with other discoveries, this recent find shows that the rich of the northeastern states remains unexplored and there are many species of plants waiting to be discovered. Researches have always been allured by the complex geology and climatic conditions of northeast India, which is Home to a diverse range of Flora and Fauna. However, much of it remains poorly documented, even as the IISER Bhopal team was studying the evolution and biogeography of Didymocarpus plants.
Northeast India is home to highly diverse flora because of its unique biogeographic placement as part of two biodiversity hotspots: the Indo-Burma hotspot and the Eastern Himalayas.