Guwahati: In a quiet, shaded slope of Raimona National Park, nestled in the Himalayan foothills, a tiny, velvety-leaved plant has emerged from the undergrowth to capture the attention of the botanical world. Meet Begonia ovatifolia var. raimonaensis — a newly discovered variety that adds yet another jewel to Northeast India’s ecological crown.
Discovered during a field exploration under the Greater Manas Recovery Project led by the Wildlife Trust of India, this plant variety stands only 15 cm tall. Yet it holds scientific significance far beyond its modest height. Botanists Sanswrang Basumatary and Sanjib Baruah of Bodoland University, Kokrajhar, who documented the species, describe it as having soft, pubescent stems and leaves, creamy white flowers, and distinctive pink-tinged features — setting it apart from its close cousins.
What makes this discovery extraordinary isn’t just the plant’s uniqueness, but where it was found. Raimona, India’s newest national park, has been making headlines for its biodiversity potential. This find confirms what ecologists have long suspected: that the semi-evergreen forests of Bodoland hold untapped botanical treasures.
Raimona is Assam’s sixth national park. The park is located at the southern foothills of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot and forms the westernmost buffer of the Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve.
It forms a natural boundary with the Sankosh River on the west and is also the interstate boundary of Assam and West Bengal, as well as the Indo-Bhutan border. It is located in the Kachugaon Forest Division under the Gossaigaon Sub-Division in the Kokrajhar district of Assam in the Bodoland Territorial Region.
The park is famous for the golden langur, which has a population of only about 6,000–6,500 individuals living in the wild across Assam at the Manas National Park and the Raimona National Park, and also in certain parts of Bhutan.
Apart from the golden langur, Raimona National Park is also home to Bengal tigers, clouded leopards, Indian elephants, Asiatic wild water buffaloes, great Indian hornbills, spotted deer, and Indian gaur. The park is home to around 170 species of birds, 150 species of butterflies, and 380 varieties of orchids and plants, which make it a biodiversity hotspot.
“The Raimona variety is like a botanical whisper,” says Basumatary, referring to its delicate appearance and the remote, undisturbed habitat it calls home. “It differs significantly from other varieties with its hairy capsules, shorter stature, and more numerous basal leaves. It’s a clear example of how microhabitats can give rise to new forms.”
But the joy of discovery is shadowed by concern. Fewer than 100 individuals of this variety have been observed in the wild, restricted to just a one-square-kilometre patch of forest. Deforestation, cattle grazing, and lack of awareness are the threats. The species is currently listed as “Data Deficient,” but researchers warn it may be critically endangered if these pressures continue.
Raimona’s significance as a conservation frontier is growing. Known for its transboundary connectivity with Bhutan’s forests and proximity to the Manas Tiger Reserve, it is home to elephants, golden langurs, and now, this rare begonia.
As Assam looks to bolster its conservation and eco-tourism identity, Begonia ovatifolia var. raimonaensis offers a symbol of what’s at stake. It’s a gentle reminder that while the forest may appear still, it’s quietly evolving, hiding new wonders under its leafy canopy, waiting for someone to notice.
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