New Flowering Plant Species ‘Torenia goalparensis’ Discovered in Assam

Researchers from Gauhati University’s Botany Department have discovered a new flowering plant species, Torenia goalparensis, in Assam’s Goalpara district. The species, named after the region, belongs to the Linderniaceae family and was found in fallow rice fields near Dhupdhara.

Led by Dr. Namita Nath, along with Shilpa Roy, Kshiprativ Basumatary, and Madhushmita Nath, the team’s findings were published in the international journal Phytotaxa. The discovery underscores Assam’s rich botanical diversity, which includes over 4,500 species of flowering plants and ferns, and emphasizes the need for conservation efforts.