Kolkata, 21 May (H.S.): A rare and endangered plant species from the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot has been rediscovered after 188 years. The significant finding has been published in the prestigious German scientific journal Feddes Repertorium — Journal of Botanical Taxonomy and Geobotany on May 18, 2026. The journal is indexed in SCOPUS and ELSEVIER and is regarded as a high-impact international research publication.

The research paper is titled “Rediscovery of Vaccinium piliferum: An Endangered Species from the Eastern Himalaya Hotspot.”

According to the researchers, the rare plant was collected in October 2024 from the outskirts of Vijaynagar in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district by botany graduate student and researcher Vinay Kumar Sahani.

The species was later identified as Vaccinium piliferum by renowned Indian blueberry expert Dr. Subhasis Panda. Dr. Panda specialises in this plant group and received training at the Central National Herbarium and the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden.

Dr. Panda prepared the manuscript and conducted a detailed study of the species as the corresponding author of the paper.

Speaking to Hindusthan Samachar on Thursday, Dr. Panda said the plant was first discovered on November 26, 1836, by British botanist William Griffith from the Mishmi Hills region, presently located in Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Since then, the species had not been traced for nearly 188 years.

Researchers said the rediscovery is particularly significant because the team documented the species with both flowers and fruits together for the first time, which is considered a major scientific achievement.

Scientists believe the rediscovery will attract conservationists, tissue culture researchers and ecologists to work towards the long-term survival and conservation of this endangered species.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey