Assam’s floral diversity has received a scientific addition with the identification of a new flowering plant species, Osbeckia assamensis, in Manas National Park.
Researchers Barnali Das and Namita Nath described the species in a study published in the botanical journal Phytotaxa on October 22. The discovery followed field surveys conducted from 2021 to 2025, during which researchers recorded scattered populations of the plant across the park’s grasslands.
A perennial shrub belonging to the Melastomataceae family, Osbeckia assamensis grows between two and 2.5 metres tall. Its pink flowers measure around 3 to 3.5 centimetres, with each cluster bearing approximately 30 to 35 flowers. The plant flowers and fruits between September and February.
The researchers established its distinct identity by examining its physical characteristics and comparing them with related species and herbarium specimens. Although the plant resembles Osbeckia nayarii, differences in stem structure, flower arrangement, hairy calyx margins and seed size confirmed that it was a separate species.
The first reference specimen was collected in Manas on October 8, 2022, while another was documented in October 2025.
The discovery highlights the ecological significance of Manas National Park and the scope for further botanical research in Assam’s forests and grasslands. The identification adds to the park’s documented floral diversity and underscores the importance of conserving natural habitats that support the state’s biodiversity.
