Portulaca bharat – New flowering plant species discovered in Aravali hills

News: A new flowering plant species with unusual morphological characteristics has been discovered in the rocky and semi-arid landscape of Aravali hills near Jaipur. Portulaca bharat – New flowering plant species discovered in Aravali hills

About Portulaca bharat

• The new species belongs to the subgenus Portulaca section Neossia.
• It is currently only known from a single location in the Galtaji hills (Aravali near Jaipur) with only 10 individuals of this species were found in the wild.
• Features: It has opposite and slightly conclave leaves and pale-yellow flowers becoming creamish-white towards apex, with the presence of glandular hairs on stamen filaments and thick roots.
• Naming: The naming of the plant after the country serves as a symbolic reminder of India’s rich and still-unfolding natural heritage.
• IUCN status: With no other populations currently known, it has been provisionally assessed as “data deficient” under the IUCN Red List guidelines.

About Portulaca genus The genus Portulaca currently comprises about 153 species worldwide, primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions. These succulent plants are known for their toughness, water-storing tissues, and adaptation to extreme environments. In India, 11 species are currently known, including four endemics, mostly distributed in dry and semi-arid habitats.