In News:

Researchers from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), have discovered a new plant species — Pedicularis rajeshiana — in the high-altitude regions of Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh.

Key Facts:

Taxonomy and Classification

• Scientific Name: Pedicularis rajeshiana
• Family: Orobanchaceae
• Common Group: Louseworts (Hemiparasitic plants – partially dependent on host plants for nutrients, but also photosynthetic)
• Named by: Botanist Dr. Arti Garg, formerly of BSI Prayagraj, now with BSI Dehradun
• Publication: Officially recorded in the international journal Phytotaxa (Mongolia)

Habitat and Discovery

• Location: Rohtang Pass, Pir Panjal range, Western Himalayas
• Altitude: ~4,390 metres (14,400 feet)
• Habitat: Shaded rocky slopes in scattered patches
• Discovery Project: "Flora of India" initiative by MoEF&CC and BSI

Unique Botanical Characteristics

• Size: Smaller than related species like P. porrecta and P. heydei
• Floral Features:
  • Deeply cut lower labium (lip)
  • Stamens positioned at three distinct levels inside the flower
  • Rare pollen morphology with croton-like surface texture
  • Two flowers observed with twin galea (hood-like structures) — a first in the genus, possibly an evolutionary trait to enhance pollination

Ecological Significance

• Endemicity: Many Pedicularis species are habitat-specific and endemic to certain Himalayan regions
• India's Diversity: Home to 83 known species of Pedicularis, with 36 in the western Himalayas
• Conservation Value: The specificity of habitat and rarity suggest potential threat status; conservation is crucial.