Meet Pedicularis rajeshiana: The new plant species from Himalayas

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Prayagraj: A groundbreaking discovery has been made in the western Himalayas of India, with the identification of a new plant species, Pedipularis rajeshiana, in the high-altitude regions of Rohtang Pass.
Ace scientist Arti Garg, formerly the head of the Botanical Survey of India in Prayagraj and currently with BSI Dehradun, has classified this unique plant under the family Orobanchaceae. Garg has named the species after her husband, Rajesh. The discovery has been officially documented in the prestigious journal Phytotaxa, based in Mongolia.
Pedicularis rajeshiana belongs to a group of plants known as "Louseworts", which are hemiparasitic, meaning they derive some nutrients from other plants while still performing photosynthesis.
According to Garg, what distinguishes this species from others in the Pedicularis genus are its unique floral characteristics and pollen structure. Notably, Garg has previously made significant discoveries, including identifying the world's oldest known Banyan tree (500 years old), a 600-year-old Khirni tree, and an 800-year-old Parijaat tree.
Unlike its close relatives P. porrecta and P. heydei, the new species is smaller in size and has fewer flowers and leaflets.
One of its most striking features is the deeply-cut lower lip (labium) of the flower and the unique positioning of its stamens — the parts that produce pollen—at three different levels inside the flower. In addition, its pollen grains show a rare structure with a croton-like surface texture and a distinct shape, which was confirmed using light and scanning electron microscopes.
Remarkably, during the fieldwork, two flowers were found with a twin "galea"— a hood-like part of the flower — a trait never observed before in this genus.
Scientists believe this may be an evolutionary adaptation aimed at improving pollination efficiency. The plant was found at an altitude of 4,390 metres (about 14,400 feet) in the Rohtang Pass, a rugged and ecologically rich area in Himachal Pradesh. The Rohtang region, part of the Pir Panjal mountain range, is known for its extreme climate, including heavy snowfall and storms.
Pedicularis rajeshiana was spotted growing in small, scattered patches in shaded rocky slopes.
It thrives in very specific microhabitats, making it rare and possibly endangered.
This discovery was made during a plant survey under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) and the Botanical Survey of India, as part of the "Flora of India" project. Detailed lab analysis was carried out on various plant parts, including pollen grains, to confirm its uniqueness and establish it as a new species.
India is home to 83 known species of Pedicularis, with 36 species found in the western Himalayas alone. Due to their parasitic nature and specific habitat requirements, many of these plants are endemic — found only in certain regions. The identification of Pedicularis rajeshiana adds to this rich biodiversity and highlights the ecological significance of high-altitude Himalayan ecosystems. Conservation efforts will be important to protect this rare discovery.

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