Portulaca bharat – New flowering plant species discovered in Aravali hills

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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

Source – The Hindu
  • 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.
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