Guwahati: In a remarkable botanical breakthrough, scientists have identified a new plant species in Assam’s Dima Hasao and West Karbi Anglong districts — a lush, evergreen shrub now named Heptapleurum assamicum. The discovery, published in Feddes Repertorium in July 2025, adds a fresh chapter to the biodiversity story of Northeast India, a region already famed for its rich and unique flora.
The species was spotted during intensive field surveys in the Kopili River basin, where researchers encountered a cluster of only about 10 individuals clinging to a massive boulder along the riverbank. Growing in a specialised rheophytic habitat — plants adapted to withstand flowing water — the shrub’s exposed, lenticellate roots and umbrella-like foliage stood out immediately. The authors of the study are Santanu Dey, Hussain A. Barbhuiya, Jayanta Das, and Deepak Kumar Baruah.
Heptapleurum assamicum belongs to the family Araliaceae, which also includes the familiar ornamental “umbrella plant” (H. arboricola). However, this wild Assamese relative carries several distinctive traits: its leaflets are narrow and lance-shaped, never more than 1.2 cm wide; its flowers are a striking purple rather than the greenish-yellow of its ornamental cousin; and its compact inflorescences bear up to 15 flowers per umbel. The fruit, when ripe, turns a deep reddish-purple and is speckled with orange-red glands — an unusual feature even within the genus.
The suggested common name is inspired by the widely known ornamental species Heptapleurum arboricola, commonly referred to as the umbrella plant, due to its characteristic umbrella-like arrangement of leaflets.
“This species shows how much is still unknown in even relatively accessible parts of Northeast India,” the authors note in their report, underscoring the importance of targeted floristic documentation.
The plant flowers between January and March, with fruits ripening by May. Its current known population is tiny and highly localised, making it potentially vulnerable to environmental changes. While no immediate threats have been documented, the researchers recommend detailed surveys to determine its full distribution and conservation status. For now, it has been categorised as “Data Deficient” under IUCN criteria.
Beyond its scientific value, H. assamicum could hold ornamental potential thanks to its evergreen foliage, compact shrubby habit, and tolerance for shaded environments — traits that could make it a desirable addition to botanical gardens and tropical-themed landscaping. Its suggested common name, “Assam Umbrella Plant,” links both its leaf arrangement and its birthplace.
The discovery also highlights the evolving taxonomy of the genus Heptapleurum, reinstated in recent years from the formerly broad Schefflera. With over 320 recognised species worldwide and 23 in India, the genus remains underexplored in Northeast India. H. assamicum adds to a growing list of species unique to this biodiversity hotspot, reinforcing the need for sustained exploration and protection of riverine and forest ecosystems in the region.
As the Kopili River flows through its rocky channels, Heptapleurum assamicum stands as a living emblem of Assam’s hidden botanical treasures — proof that even in the 21st century, nature still has secrets waiting to be revealed.