In a significant addition to India’s botanical record, scientists have identified two new plant species from Arunachal Pradesh, reinforcing the Eastern Himalaya’s reputation as one of the world’s richest biodiversity regions.
The newly described species—Henckelia clarkei and Henckelia zingnui—belong to the Gesneriaceae family and have been documented by researchers from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). The findings have been published in the international journal Taiwania.
The discovery was made by Dr Krishna Chowlu, Scientist D and Head of the Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre in Itanagar; Dr S.S. Dash, Scientist F and in charge of the Technical Section at BSI headquarters in Kolkata; Rohan Maity, Senior Preservation Assistant at the Central National Herbarium in Howrah; and Akshath Shenoy, Senior Preservation Assistant in Itanagar.
The discoveries were made during field surveys in Upper Subansiri and West Siang districts, with both species found along forested stretches near key road corridors—suggesting that even relatively accessible landscapes in Arunachal Pradesh continue to harbour undocumented biodiversity.
Henckelia clarkei was recorded from the Raga–Daporijo stretch in Upper Subansiri, growing on open hill slopes in tropical montane forests, while Henckelia zingnui was discovered along the Daporijo–Aalo route in West Siang, thriving in damp, shaded forest patches near streams.
The names reflect both scientific legacy and local inspiration. H. clarkei honours noted botanist Charles Baron Clarke, while H. zingnui is named after Chou Zingnu Namchoom, a youth leader from Arunachal Pradesh known for promoting biodiversity awareness.
Reacting to the publication, the Botanical Survey of India described the discovery as a “remarkable achievement” by its scientists.
“The Botanical Survey of India is delighted to share the remarkable achievement of our scientists and researchers on the publication of their research article on the discovery of two new species of Henckelia in the prestigious journal Taiwania,” the BSI said in a statement.
“Through dedicated field exploration and taxonomic expertise, our team has documented two new species of flowering plants from Arunachal Pradesh—a region globally recognised for its extraordinary floral wealth. This discovery not only enriches the flora of India but also highlights the immense, yet still underexplored, biodiversity of the Eastern Himalaya,” it said.
The organisation added that such findings reaffirm Arunachal Pradesh as a “treasure trove of plant diversity”, where continued scientific exploration can lead to discoveries of global importance.
“We wholeheartedly congratulate our dedicated scientists and researchers for their hard work and commitment. Their achievement inspires us to further strengthen botanical exploration, documentation, and conservation efforts across the country,” the BSI said.
Despite the breakthrough, both species appear to be rare. Researchers recorded only around 15–18 mature individuals of H. clarkei and about a dozen plants of H. zingnui at their respective sites.
With limited data available, both have been classified as “Data Deficient” under IUCN guidelines, pointing to the need for further surveys and conservation attention.
Arunachal Pradesh already hosts at least 26 species of the genus Henckelia, and scientists believe many more remain undiscovered.
The study underscores how the state’s unique geography—at the junction of the Himalaya and Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspots—continues to support rich and largely unexplored plant diversity.
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