Researchers from the Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong discovered a new plant species and named it as Stellaria bengalensis.
About S. bengalensis:
It is the annual herb plant of the genus Stellaria (family Caryophyllaceae).
It was found growing on muddy soil slopes — at altitudes of 2,245-2,450 metres in the Sangser forest, Kalimpong.
Characteristics:
It is an annual herb growing to a height of 8 to 10.5 cm, characterized by white flowers, absence of bract, shorter petals (or included within the sepal), sharp and pointed seeds.
Flowering and fruiting occur during May to September.
India has around 22 Stellaria species mostly distributed in the Himalayan region.
The researchers have for the time being assessed the new species as ‘data deficient’ under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria.
Other species Stellaria mcclintockiae, of the same genus, was found on Nelliyampathy Hills of Kerala.
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