11-Aug-2019: New species of marmoset discovered in the Amazon
A researcher has discovered a new species of marmoset, a type of primate in the Brazilian Amazon, even as its habitat is facing a flood of ‘developmental’ activities.
The new species is distinct from other marmosets in that it has white tails rather than black, which the others have. It also has white feet and hands, white forearms and a beige-yellow spot on the elbow.
The name ‘Mico munduruku’ has been given to the marmoset, after the Munduruku Amerindians that are native to the region.
However, even as the marmoset has been discovered, its home is under great threats. Its habitat lies in a so-called ‘arc of deforestation’ in the Amazon where all sorts of ‘developmental activities’ including illegal logging, agricultural expansion, road and hydro-electric power plant building, have taken or are taking place.
24-Jul-2019: India’s first dragon tree
Assam has added to India’s botanical wealth a plant that yields dragon’s blood — a bright red resin used since ancient times as medicine, body oil, varnish, incense and dye.
Researchers have discovered Dracaena cambodiana , a dragon tree species in the Dongka Sarpo area of West Karbi Anglong. This is for the first time that a dragon tree species has been reported from India.
The dragon tree species was found on hilly rock crevices within a 0.05 sq km area. It took four years of fieldwork and study to classify the plant as a dragon tree species whose sap turns bright red after coming in contact with air.
In India, the Dracaena genus belonging to the family Asparagaceae is represented by nine species and two varieties in the Himalayan region, the northeast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. But Dracaena cambodiana is the only true dragon tree species.
Dragon tree is an important medicinal plant as well as an ornamental tree. it is a major source of dragon’s blood, a precious traditional medicine in China. Several antifungal and antibacterial compounds, antioxidants, flavonoids, etc., have been extracted from various parts of the plant.
Recent overexploitation to meet the increasing demand for dragon’s blood has resulted in rapid depletion of the plant. For this reason, the species is already listed in the inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of China.
The population size of the dragon tree species in Assam was estimated to be fewer than 50 mature individuals. The habitat of the plant is severely fragmented due to open excavation of a stone quarry and there is continuing decrease in its area of occupancy and number of mature individuals.
The Dracaena seeds are usually dispersed by birds. But due to the large fruit size, only a few species of birds are able to swallow the fruits, thus limiting the scope of its natural conservation. The study advocates conservation programme for Dracaena cambodiana in view of its medicinal, ornamental and ecological values.
20-Jun-2019: 20 new balsam species found in Arunachal Pradesh.
Between 2010 and 2019, botanists and taxonomists working on Impatiens - a group of plants commonly known as Balsams or jewel-weeds - discovered 23 new species from the eastern Himalayas. Consisting of both annual and perennial herbs, balsams are succulent plants with high endemism. Because of their bright beautiful flowers, these groups of plants are of prized horticultural significance.
There are about 230 species of Balsams found in India and majority of them are found in the eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats.
Prior to 2010, specimens of Impatiens that had potential of being identified as new species would be collected but the dried up specimens looked identical to the species discovered earlier and their effort yielded no results. After a few failed attempts, scientists understood where the problem lay and decided that the plants should be dissected in the field before being taken to the herbarium.
Other than high endemism, what sets Impatiens apart is their sensitivity to climate change. Most of the species of Impatiens cannot endure persistent drought or extended exposure to direct sunlight. As a result Impatiens species are typically confined to stream margins, moist roadsides, waterside boulders, near waterfalls and wet forests.
According to the scientists there are at least six Balsam species such as (I. adamowskiana, I. debalgensis, I. albopetala, I. ashihoi, I. idumishmiensis, I. rugosipetala) that are confined only to one mountain belt in lower Dibang valley in Arunachal Pradesh. Some species of Balsams highlighted in the publication such as (I. lohitensis, I. pathakiana, I. pseudolaevigata, I. siangensis, I. xanthina) have high horticulture due to presence of big showy flowers.