Rare Wild Blueberry Vaccinium piliferum Rediscovered in Arunachal Pradesh

Key facts

• Indian botanical scientists rediscovered Vaccinium piliferum, a rare and endangered wild relative of the blueberry, in the forests of Vijoynagar in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The species was first documented by Western science in 1836, making this rediscovery occur after nearly 188 years.
• The field expedition was a collaborative effort involving the Society for Education and Environmental Development, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), and other scientific institutions.
• The plants were located near the Noa-Dihing River in a sensitive zone of the Eastern Himalayas.
• Vaccinium piliferum belongs to the Ericaceae family and is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).