New Flowering Plant Species Discovered in Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary, Telangana

New Botanical Discovery in Telangana’s Eastern Ghats

Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India have identified a new species of flowering plant in Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary , located in Telangana’s Mahbubabad district.

The species, named Dicliptera pakhalica , was formally described in the international botanical journal Brittonia on 29 January , highlighting the region’s rich yet still underexplored plant diversity.

Discovery During Systematic Floristic Surveys

The plant was discovered during detailed floristic surveys conducted in the Pandem East Beat of the Gangaram Range inside the sanctuary. The research team included L. Rasingam (BSI scientist), P. Harikrishna (botanist), A. Parthiban (research scholar), and V. Chandra Sekhara Rao (forest divisional officer).

The species was found growing along stream banks, rocky slopes, and areas near waterfalls , habitats that often support unique and endemic plant life due to high moisture and microclimatic variation.

Distinct Morphological Features

Dicliptera pakhalica belongs to the Acanthaceae family and shows close resemblance to Dicliptera parvibracteata , a species reported from parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. However, careful comparison of field samples and herbarium records revealed several distinguishing traits, including:

• Adpressed, deflexed hairiness on the stem

• Unkeeled bracts

• Absence of glandular hairs on flowers and fruits

• An obovoid capsule

• Echinate (spiny) seeds

These consistent differences confirmed its status as a new species .

Ecological Context and Flowering Pattern

The genus Dicliptera is among the most species-rich within Acanthaceae, comprising over 220 species worldwide , with 29 taxa recorded in India so far.

Field observations indicate that Dicliptera pakhalica flowers between November and January , while fruiting occurs from December to March . The species was found growing alongside native flora such as Tarenna asiatica , Eranthemum purpurascens , Ruellia prostrata , and Mallotus philippensis , suggesting its integration into the local forest ecosystem.

Conservation Status and Name Origin

At present, Dicliptera pakhalica is known only from its type locality within Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary. Extensive surveys conducted between 2023 and 2025 in surrounding regions failed to locate additional populations.

Due to its limited known distribution and insufficient population data, the species has been classified as Data Deficient under the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), emphasising the need for further ecological and conservation studies.

The species name pakhalica is derived from Pakhal Lake , a historic reservoir constructed during the Kakatiya period , after which the sanctuary itself is named.