📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Gareth James
Science
Rare flowering shrub found in Assam after 204‑year disappearance, says minister
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 21 Oct 2026, 12:33 PM
👁 7
A plant thought extinct for over two centuries has been located in Assam’s forest, according to the state minister.
The state’s environment minister announced that a flowering shrub, not recorded in scientific surveys for 204 years, has been rediscovered in a forested area of Assam. The plant, which botanists had presumed extinct since the early 19th century, was identified during a routine field survey.
Experts say the find is significant for biodiversity conservation, as such rare species can provide insights into ecosystem health and evolutionary processes. The shrub’s unique flowering pattern and habitat preferences are expected to attract further scientific study.
Authorities plan to document the exact location, assess the population size, and implement protective measures to prevent any threat from habitat loss or illegal collection. The discovery underscores the importance of continued field research in India’s northeastern forests.
Experts say the find is significant for biodiversity conservation, as such rare species can provide insights into ecosystem health and evolutionary processes. The shrub’s unique flowering pattern and habitat preferences are expected to attract further scientific study.
Authorities plan to document the exact location, assess the population size, and implement protective measures to prevent any threat from habitat loss or illegal collection. The discovery underscores the importance of continued field research in India’s northeastern forests.