Hoya nagaensis: New Hoya (waxflower) species recorded from Nagaland, Kew Bulletin

A new plant species previously unknown to science is recorded from Nagaland, with findings published in the international journal Kew Bulletin. The species is identified as Hoya nagaensis, belonging to the milkweed group of plants, and is provisionally classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Hoya nagaensis (New waxflower species from Nagaland):

Dimension	Key Details
Taxonomic group	Belongs to the milkweed group of plants, which are known for their milky sap.
Genus	Genus Hoya; known as waxflowers for attractive appearance and ornamental value.
Growth habitat	Mostly climbing or hanging vines growing on trees or rocks, with twining stems and milky sap.
Leaves and flowers	Thick, leathery or fleshy leaves; waxy flowers that grow in clusters and reappear each year.
Habitat & distribution	High-altitude temperate forests under community protection of Nagaland; known only from a single location, leading to extremely restricted distribution.
Key characteristics	Shows close morphological affinity with Hoya thomsonii and Hoya coronaria.
Distinctive features	Distinctive leaf shapes; flowers have unique floral features distinguishing it from other Hoya species.
Conservation status	IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered (provisional classification).
Threats	Shifting cultivation and forest disturbance.
Ecological significance	Highlights community-protected forests of Nagaland as a vital refuge for rare and endemic plants; underscores the Eastern Himalaya as a reservoir of undiscovered plant diversity.