A rare flowering plant species has been discovered in the Jatinga Hills of Dima Hasao district. The species, Heliotropium ovatum, belonging to...
New Evidence of Assam–Andaman Biodiversity Link
Silchar, May 25 : A rare flowering plant species has been discovered in the Jatinga Hills of Dima Hasao district. The species, Heliotropium ovatum, belonging to the family Heliotropiaceae, was identified during fieldwork conducted by researchers from Assam University and the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya.
The study was carried out by Kankan Kumar Das, researcher of Assam University & Selim Mehmud of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya under the able guidance of Prof. Debjyoti Bhattacharyya, Dept of Life Science & Bioinformatics, Assam University. Their findings mark the first confirmed record of Heliotropium ovatum from mainland India, significantly expanding the known distribution range of the species within the country. The research findings have recently been published in the journal National Academy Science Letters.
Until now, the species had been reported in India only from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Although earlier reports mentioned its occurrence in Arunachal Pradesh, subsequent taxonomic reviews did not validate those records. The plant is, however, known to occur in Myanmar and Thailand. According to the researchers, a detailed examination of the digital herbarium of the Botanical Survey of India and major herbaria in northeastern India and Kolkata revealed no previously authenticated mainland Indian specimens of the species.
The research paper states that the Assam collection represents the first confirmed mainland Indian record of Heliotropium ovatum. The plant was found growing among large rocks near a stream in the Jatinga Hills, in an area receiving direct sunlight. Researchers located only five to six mature individuals at the site. The shrub can grow up to two metres in height and bears clusters of greenish-white flowers arranged in branched inflorescences. Flowering has been recorded between November and December. In addition to confirming the species' presence in mainland India, the researchers also identified a previously undocumented morphological characteristic of the plant. This newly observed feature is expected to provide valuable information for future taxonomic and ecological studies.
Experts believe the discovery adds a new dimension to biodiversity research in the region and highlights a unique botanical connection between Assam and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, offering fresh insights into the distribution and evolution of plant species across these geographically distant regions.
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