VISAKHAPATNAM: In yet another discovery of a new flower species, a team of botanists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) has identified Dicliptera srisailamica, a flowering plant found in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Led by scientist L. Rasingam from the BSI's Deccan Regional Centre in Hyderabad, the research team located the species in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve near the popular Srisailam area.
Belonging to the Acanthaceae family, Dicliptera srisailamica adds to the diversity of this plant family, which is represented globally by 223 known species. In India, the Dicliptera genus includes 27 species, eight of which are endemic to the country. Andhra Pradesh alone is home to seven recorded species of Dicliptera, contributing significantly to the flora of the Eastern Ghats. This discovery adds to the diversity of India's flora, as Dicliptera is known for its tropical and subtropical presence worldwide.
The plant is an erect herb, reaching up to 90 cm, with four-angled stems covered in fine, deflexed hairs when young. Its leaves are ovate, with prominent veins and smooth margins. The plant blooms with small, pink, bi-lipped flowers arranged in clusters, commonly seen from October to January.
The researchers noted that Dicliptera srisailamica differs from Dicliptera beddomei in several ways, such as having short, downturned hairs on the stem and distinctive bracts around the flowers. The tertiary bracts are linear and spathulate in shape, setting them apart from the ovate bracts seen in related species. The capsules containing the seeds are also covered in simple hairs, with fewer glandular hairs compared to D. beddomei.
Named after the temple town of Srisailam, Dicliptera srisailamica was found in rare patches along stream banks and rocky edges near waterfalls. Though over time other similar species had been misidentified as D. beddomei or D. cuneata, a careful examination of this new specimen led the researchers to confirm its status as a distinct species. According to scientist L. Rasingam, further studies in nearby regions will help determine its precise distribution and any additional conservation requirements.
Preserved specimens of this species are now stored in major Indian herbaria, including the Central National Herbarium. "While the conservation status of the species has not yet been evaluated, its limited known habitat and susceptibility to environmental disturbances highlight the need for conservation efforts in these biodiverse but sensitive regions. It is important to protect these unique ecosystems from human interference to ensure the survival of such newly discovered species," Rasingam added.