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.
