Dicliptera srisailamica Discovered in Eastern Ghats

In November 2024, a team of scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) has identified Dicliptera srisailamica, a flowering plant species, in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, located in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Key Points

Family: Acanthaceae, which includes 223 known species globally.
Description: Erect herb, up to 90 cm tall, with ovate leaves and small pink, bi-lipped flowers blooming from October to January.
Distinct Characteristics: Four-angled stems with fine, deflexed hairs; linear-spathulate tertiary bracts; and capsule hairs distinct from related species such as D. beddomei.
Habitat and Naming: The plant grows in rare patches along stream banks and rocky edges near waterfalls. It is named after the temple town of Srisailam, where it was first identified.
Importance and Conservation: This is the eighth endemic Dicliptera species in India, contributing to the seven species already recorded in Andhra Pradesh.