New Hoya Species (Hoya dawodiensis)

Why in News?

Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, has reported a major scientific milestone with the discovery of a new plant species, Hoya dawodiensis.

• Family – Apocynaceae.
• Genus – Hoya, belongs to a large group of tropical flowering species.

• Habitat- It grows along streamside trees in the rugged, biodiversity-rich Vijoynagar valley, an area bordered by Myanmar and the Namdapha National Park.
• Key Characteristics
  • Appearance - A delicate climbing plant.
  • Flowers - It produces glossy white, star-like blooms arranged in clusters.
  • Flowering Season - It typically flowers from late September to November.

• Conservation Status - The species is already considered Critically Endangered, with only three to four individual plants known to exist in the wild.
• Threats - Its limited habitat is under threat from shifting cultivation practices in the region.

Researchers have also recorded Hoya yingjiangensis for the first time in India, while Hoya nummularia has been documented in Arunachal Pradesh for the first time.

Reference

Hindustan times | Hoya dawodiensis