Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Species
Why in News?
A rare Himalayan flower has been rediscovered in Arunachal Pradesh after 158 years, prompting scientists to recommend its endangered status in India.
Scientific Name – Cyananthus hookeri.
It is a dwarf, tuft-forming herb with purple-blue flowers that grow in fragile alpine meadows of the Sino-Himalayan region.
Family – Campanulaceae or bellflower.
Rediscovered Location– Chuna Valley in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
Last Seen in– A rare purple-blue alpine flower, last collected in India by legendary British botanist Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1867 in Sikkim.
Distribution – It occurs throughout the eastern Himalayas, in Bhutan, China, India and Tibet, but with a restricted distribution.
Growth Condition– Harsh alpine conditions and short growing seasons make survival challenging for most plant species.
Recommendation to IUCN– The researchers have recommended that the species be classified as Endangered in India under IUCN Red List criteria.
Significance – The first confirmed record from Arunachal & India’s first since 1867 highlights the rich Eastern Himalaya flora and the need for conserving fragile alpine ecosystems.
