ITANAGAR: The renowned journal Phytotaxa has officially reported the discovery of a new plant species, Aeschynanthus chayangtajuensis, which was spotted in Arunachal Pradesh. In honour of the region's unique biodiversity and cultural legacy, the species is named after Chayang Tajo, one of the oldest and most isolated towns in the state.
Chayang Tajo, a village under the Government of India's Vibrant Village Programme, which strives to foster economic development and sustainable growth in border areas, is brought to light by this finding, thereby showing the ecological relevance of Arunachal Pradesh.
The discovery of Aeschynanthus chayangtajuensis promotes the significance of conserving the northeast's natural heritage and highlights Arunachal Pradesh's rising prominence in the international scientific community.
Earlier this month, a new plant species was discovered in the forest regions of Mayodia in Arunachal Pradesh by researchers from the Pasighat-based North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR). As per the experts, the plant species "Ophiorrhiza gajureliana" was found to be a member of the Ophiorrhiza genus and the Rubiaceae family.
According to NEIAFMR officials, the plant species is named in honour of Prof. Padma Raj Gajurel, a faculty member at the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology (NERIST), located in Nirjuli, for his important contributions to ethnobotanical and plant study in the Eastern Himalayas.
The discovery was made when the NEIAFMR research team set off on an expedition to record medicinal plants in the Lower Dibang Valley district, under the direction of scientist Dr. Amal Bawri, on September 8, 2023.
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