Strobilanthes riteshii

Why in News?

Recently, researchers from the Botanical Survey of India formally recorded a new flowering plant species from Arunachal Pradesh.

• Family – Acanthaceae.
• Genus – Strobilanthes.
  • India hosts a rich diversity of Strobilanthes, with the Himalayan and Northeast region contributing nearly half of the total.
  • They are known for their striking flowers and mass-flowering cycles.
• Nomenclature – Named it after Dr Ritesh Kumar Choudhary, an Indian plant taxonomist at the Agharkar Research Institute.
• In honour of his contributions to plant taxonomy and molecular systematics.
• Discovery – Chayangtajo in East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Habitat – Grows along roadsides on open hill slopes, often near small waterfalls and streams within evergreen forest patches.
• Distribution – Endemic to the Eastern Himalayan region of Arunachal Pradesh, with only about 25 mature individuals recorded so far.
• Key Characteristics –
  • Appearance – It is a rare flowering shrub/herb with a close resemblance to Strobilanthes gigantea.
  • Flowers – The flowers are purple to violet, bell-shaped and possess flaring petals.
  • Flowering Season – Observed between August and October, while fruiting occurs from September to December.
• Conservation Status –
  • IUCN Red List – Data Deficient (DD)
• Threats – Habitat pressure from road-widening, shifting (jhum) cultivation, and stream pollution.
• Limited data on wider distribution increases conservation risk.
• Ecological Significance – Shows the Eastern Himalaya as a key biogeographical corridor linking India, China and Tibet.
• Highlights the unique, highly endemic Himalayan flora.
• Emphasises the need for continued exploration and conservation of fragile ecosystems.

References

1. India Today NE | Strobilanthes riteshii
2. NE Now | Strobilanthes riteshii