08-03-2021 | 13:12 PM
New Alpine Plant Species Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh
Context
A new species of alpine plant in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district has been discovered by a group of scientists of three institutes of the country. As per guidelines from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, alpine plant species are critically endangered.
Key Highlights
The new species belongs to the family of Himalayan sunflower and it is named as Cremanthodium indicum.
It is a perennial herb and stands 16–24 cm tall and is endemic to Penga-Teng Tso Lake of Tawang district.
Cremanthodium indicum grows in boggy soil among mosses along the banks of alpine lake.
This species of plant generally flowers from the month of July to August.
Tawang district holds one of the assemblages of flowering plants in the northeastern state, which attracts botanists across the world.
The alpine plant species is assessed as critically endangered under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
About Alpine Plants
Alpine plants are plants that grow in an alpine climate, which occurs at high elevation and above the treeline.
Tree line is the edge of habitat at which trees are capable to grow.
Tree line is found at high elevations and high latitudes.
It is the line beyond which the trees cannot tolerate environmental conditions like extreme snowpack, cold temperatures, or associated lack of moisture.
Many of the plant species and taxon grow as a plant community in such alpine tundra including perennial grasses, forbes, sedges, mosses, cushion plants and lichens.
Alpine plants are adapted to harsh alpine climatic of environmental conditions such as dryness, low temperatures, wind, drought, ultraviolet radiation, poor nutritional soil and a short growing season.