In recent years, Arunachal Pradesh, known for its rich biodiversity and enchanting location, has experienced an enormous rise in popularity, partly due to its vast and unexplored wilderness. The region has been actively identifying and rediscovering numerous rare and endemic species over the past few years. Two of the plant and tree species that have just been identified in recent months have been highlighted in the following:

Meiogyne arunachalensis

Meiogyne arunachalensis, named after the state, is a unique tree species that has only recently been identified by scientists in the East Siang district, in the Adi Hills of Arunachal Pradesh. This discovery is quite significant for the area. This makes it yet another discovery, following the Namdapha National Park in Changlang.

Through their combined efforts, the Hem Chand Mahindra Foundation, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the forest department of Arunachal Pradesh were able to identify this new species of tree in the region. This discovery was made by researcher Navendu Page while on a biodiversity excursion.

The Meiogyne arunachalensis discovery was covered in a ground-breaking scientific study that appeared in the Edinburgh Journal of Botany on May 19. This paper is a significant development because it is the first account of the Meiogyne genus in Northeast India and the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. Researcher Navendu Page emphasised that this discovery is not only the first of its kind from the Eastern Himalayan and Northeast India regions but also the third species of its sort to be discovered in India.

Meiogyne arunachalensis may also be found in the surrounding districts of Lower Dibang Valley and Lohit, as well as in some of the locations that lie alongside Namdapha National Park in northern Myanmar. With a wide geographic distribution throughout South and Southeast Asia, the Meiogyne genus has about 33 species that are currently recognised. Because of its extraordinary tree height and trunk girth, Meiogyne arunachalensis stands out as the largest species in the Meiogyne genus to date. According to researchers, the Meiogyne maxiflora species, which is found in Thailand, is somewhat similar to this new species, although it differs from it in terms of vegetative and reproductive traits.

Smilax turbans

Botanists have recently rediscovered the smilax turban in the pristine forests of the Kurung Kumey district in Arunachal Pradesh. This long-lost plant species is closely related to the well-known Ayurvedic medicinal herb Chopchini (Smilax china). Since its last documented collection in 1928 by F. Kingdon-Ward, this botanical specimen has not been acquired for nearly ninety years. This plant, which is said to be endemic to Arunachal Pradesh, is an important Ayurvedic herb and the wild variant of the Chopchini, a herbal plant.

Ritesh Kumar Choudhary, a well-known researcher at the Agharkar Research Institute in Pune, and Geetika Sukhramani, one of his doctorate students, played a role in the plant's rediscovery. Following the rediscovery, they offered a thorough description complete with photos taken under a microscope, distribution information, phenological insights, field notes, and comparisons to closely related species. Several steps were taken to make its accurate identification and eventual conservation easier.

The researchers will now start looking at how this native species fits into the local ecology and how it interacts with other plants and animals because, in addition to being a remarkable scientific accomplishment, the rediscovery of smilax turbans is also important ecologically.

As different smilax species are well known for their healing powers in conventional medicine, these findings might have significance for medical study. Chopchini, for instance, has anti-inflammatory properties and boosts immune system performance. It also has positive effects on digestion and reproductive health, making it an extremely significant botanical resource for conventional Ayurvedic treatment.

The finding of such species is significant because it deepens our understanding of the region's uncommon flora and highlights the importance of active research and conservation efforts in Arunachal Pradesh's biodiversity-rich region. The rediscovery emphasises the importance of preserving such distinctive habitats and attests to the enormous diversity of Arunachal Pradesh's flora. It also serves as a reminder to continue research and exploration to find new species and their potential benefits for human health and environmental wellbeing.