Two bio-geographic hotspots in India yield two new plant species

By The Study UPSC

Jun 28, 2024

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Two bio-geographic hotspots in India yield two new plant species

Context:

“Dendrophthoe longensis discovered in Long Islands of middle Andamans and Petrocosmea arunachalense found in a cave in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Discovery of Dendrophthoe longensis:

Location: Long Islands, middle Andamans, India.
Species: Aerial stem-parasitic flowering plant.
Host Plant: Mango (Mangifera indica).
Habitat: Edge of evergreen forests, lowland tropical forest areas.
Distribution: Sparse, limited to specific localities.
Conservation Status: Endangered (IUCN).
Significance: Represents a hemi-parasitic mistletoe species adapted to specific ecological conditions.

Dendrophthoe longensis

Discovery of Petrocosmea arunachalense:

Location: Mandla region, West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Species: Small herbaceous plant.
Habitat: Found inside a cave, indicating low light requirements.
Appearance: White with purple blotch, hairy texture.
Family: Gesneriaceae.
Uniqueness: Second known species of the genus Petrocosmea in India.

Petrocosmea arunachalense

Biodiversity Hotspots:

Biodiversity hotspots, as defined by British biologist Norman Myers, are regions with high species richness, significant endemism, and often severe habitat loss.
Globally, 36 such regions exist, covering just 2.5% of Earth’s land surface.
But supporting over half of all plant species as endemic and nearly 43% of bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian species as endemic.
To qualify as a hotspot, a region must:

- Contains at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species (>0.5% of the world’s total), making it irreplaceable.
- Have lost at least 70% of its original habitat, indicating it is threatened (must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation).

India hosts four hotspots:
- The Himalayas, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats, and Sundaland.

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Two bio-geographic hotspots in India yield two new plant species

Two bio-geographic hotspots in India yield two new plant species

Context:

Discovery of Dendrophthoe longensis:

Discovery of Petrocosmea arunachalense:

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Have Questions About UPSC CSE or The Study IAS Programs?

Our Expert Counselors are Here to Discuss Your Queries and Concerns in a Personalized Manner to Help You Achieve Your Academic Goals.