BSI Discovers New Plant Species “Osbeckia ulotricha” in Kerala-Tamil Nadu Region

Key facts

• Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new flowering plant species named Osbeckia ulotricha.
• Osbeckia ulotricha belongs to the Melastomataceae family.
• The species was found in the shola grasslands of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats.
• It grows at elevations of 1,200–1,500 metres.
• The plant's woolly-haired appearance helps it survive in the cool, wet shola-grassland ecosystem.
• The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is home to protected areas including the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
• Osbeckia ulotricha is endemic to its elevation range, making its conservation critical.
• The discovery highlights how much remains unknown in India's biodiversity hotspots.