In Brief
- New flowering species named Disporum kamakhasiense discovered in Northeast India.
- Found at three locations across Assam and Meghalaya.
- Species faces potential extinction threats from deforestation, road expansion and habitat disturbance.
Botanists have discovered a new flowering plant species, Disporum kamakhasiense, in the forests of Assam and Meghalaya, with the findings published in the international botanical journal Novon on November 4, 2026. The plant belongs to the Colchicaceae family and was recorded at three locations: Garbhanga Reserve Forest in Assam, Laisong in Dima Hasao district and Barapani in Meghalaya.
The newly identified perennial herb can grow up to 180 cm tall and features branched stems, broad yellowish-green leaves with prominent veins and distinctive white, star-shaped flowers. It grows on cliffs beneath bamboo forests at elevations of 200 to 1,100 metres. Researchers have described the species as potentially endangered due to its limited distribution and threats including deforestation, road expansion and over-exploitation, calling for further conservation studies to protect its habitat.
