Pedicularis Revealiana

About Pedicularis Revealiana: 

• It is unique among all Pedicularis species.
• It is stout and woody stems, bears minute flowers of pinkish-purple colour.
• It is a hemiparasitic plant species.
• Along with making its own food, it has the ability to gather nutrients from the roots of trees and plants located nearby.
• This new flora is found in remote forests, which are covered with snow for most of the year.
• This genus includes about 677 species worldwide, of which 82 species, 13 subspecies and nine varieties have been reported so far in India.
• Pendicularis revealiana is the 83rd species reported by the botanists and the plant is commonly known as a perennial herb.

Key Facts about Botanical Survey of India

• It is the apex taxonomic research organization of the country which is under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India.
• It was established on 13thFebruary 1890 under the direction of Sir George King.
• The mandate of the organization has been broaden to biosystematics research, floristic studies, documentation, databasing of National Botanical collection, digitization of herbarium specimens etc.
• Headquarter: Kolkata

Q1) What is a Hemiparasitic plant?

Hemiparasitic plants, also known as partial or semi-parasitic plants, are a unique group of plants that exhibit a form of parasitism, but they are not fully dependent on their host for survival and these plants are capable of photosynthesis to some extent, producing their food.

Source: BSIP scientists discover new species of flower from Sikkim