Researchers Name New Himalayan Plant Impatiens nimspurjai After Legendary Mountaineer Nirmal Purja

Key facts

• Researchers Bhakta Bahadur Raskoti and Rita Ale have named a newly discovered Himalayan plant Impatiens nimspurjai in honour of the legendary Nepali mountaineer Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja.
• The plant species was discovered in Nepal's Myagdi district, which is situated at an altitude of around 2,800–2,900 metres.
• Impatiens nimspurjai belongs to the plant genus Impatiens, known commonly in Nepal as tiuri.
• In 2019, Nirmal Purja climbed all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre-plus peaks in six months and six days.
• Purja was part of the historic all-Nepali team that made the first winter ascent of K2 in 2021.
• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recognised Purja as a Mountain Advocate.
• Through the Nimsdai Foundation, Purja championed the Big Mountain Cleanup initiative to remove abandoned expedition waste such as oxygen bottles, ropes and tents from high-altitude peaks.
• Nirmal Purja was among ten climbers who died in a Broad Peak avalanche.