Phlogacanthus Sudhansusekharii

About Phlogacanthus Sudhansusekharii:

• It is a newly discovered plant species which belongs to the family ‘Acanthaceae’ and the ‘Phlogacanthus’ genus.
• It was discovered from the Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Papum Pare district, Arunachal Pradesh.
• The species is named to honor Dr. Sudhansu Sekhar Dash, a scientist at the BSI, for his “significant contribution” to plant and ecological research in the Indian Himalayan region.
• The genus ‘Phlogacanthus’ comprises 13 species in India and is spread over mainly the northeastern and eastern Himalayan states.

Key Facts about Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is a protected area located in Naharlagun, near the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh.
• It covers an area of 140.30 sq. km. 
• It shares borders with thePam River in the east, Pachin in the south, Neorochi in the north-east and Chingke stream in the north.
• Flora:
  • The forest is a heterogenous mixture of evergreenandsemi-evergreen forest types. 
  • Apart from valleys and foothills, the entire region is hilly, which has given way to pure patches of bamboo.
  • It is also popular for having different species of orchids.
• Fauna:
  • It is home to a wide variety of wildlife species, including tigers, leopards, clouded leopards, elephants, barking deer, sambar, and various species of primates such as hoolock gibbons and macaques.
  • It is also home to avian species, including hornbills, eagles, and pheasants.

Q1: What is the Botanical Survey of India (BSI)?

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 broadened to biosystematics research, floristic studies, documentation, database of National Botanical collection, digitization of herbarium specimens etc. It is headquartered in Kolkata.

Source: New plant species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh