New flowering plant species identified in Assam's Manas National Park
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the discovery of Osbeckia assamensis, a perennial shrub found in the park's grasslands.
Researchers have identified a new flowering plant species, Osbeckia assamensis, in Assam's Manas National Park, according to Telangana Today.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated on Monday that the discovery reflects the government's focus on nature conservation. He noted that the state has seen frequent discoveries of new plant and animal species recently.
State Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said the species was described by researchers Barnali Das and Namita Nath in the journal Phytotaxa on October 22. The researchers identified the plant following field studies carried out from 2021 to 2025.
The Osbeckia assamensis is a perennial shrub from the Melastomataceae family that reaches heights of 2 to 2.5 metres. It produces pink flowers, each measuring 3 to 3.5 centimetres, with clusters containing about 30 to 35 flowers.
The plant produces flowers and fruit from September to February. Minister Mallabaruah noted that the first reference specimen was gathered in Manas on October 8, 2022, and another was documented in October 2025.