Botanical Survey of India Records New Species Strobilanthes riteshii in Arunachal Pradesh

Researchers from the Botanical Survey of India formally record a new flowering plant species, Strobilanthes riteshii, from Arunachal Pradesh. The species is reported from Chayangtajo in East Kameng district and is assessed as IUCN Data Deficient with limited individuals recorded.

Strobilanthes riteshii (New Plant Species Recorded by Botanical Survey of India):

Dimension	Key Details
Taxonomy	Family: Acanthaceae; Genus: Strobilanthes.
Nomenclature	Named after Dr. Ritesh Kumar Choudhary in recognition of his contributions to plant taxonomy and molecular systematics.
Discovery location	Chayangtajo, East Kameng district, 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; about 25 mature individuals recorded so far.
Key characteristics	Rare flowering shrub/herb; close resemblance to Strobilanthes gigantea; flowers are purple to violet, bell-shaped, with flaring petals.
Phenology	Flowering observed between August and October; fruiting occurs from September to December.
IUCN conservation	Data Deficient (DD).
Threats	Habitat pressure from road-widening, shifting (jhum) cultivation, and stream pollution; limited data on wider distribution increases conservation risk.
Genus-related facts	India has high Strobilanthes diversity, especially in the Himalayas and Northeast, known for their striking flowers and mass-flowering cycles.
Ecological significance	Shows the Eastern Himalaya as a key biogeographical corridor linking India, China and Tibet; highlights unique, highly endemic Himalayan flora.