💥UPSC 2026, 2027 UAP Mentorship - June Batch Starts

New Species of Plants and Animals Discovered

Phtheirospermum Lushaiorum: Hemiparasite Plant Species named after Lushai Tribe  

Why in the News?

  • A rare hemi-parasitic terrestrial plant has been found in Phawngpui National Park of Mizoram.
    • It has been named ‘Phtheirospermum Lushaiorum’ after the Lushai tribe of Mizoram, honoring their commitment to biodiversity conservation.

About  Lushai Tribe

    • Lushai is another tribe under the Kuki-chin group (racially from Mongolia) of tribes.
      • They are commonly known as Mizos.
      • In Tripura there are 5,384 persons (as per 2011 Census).
    • Occupation: They mostly reside in the Jampui Hills area of Tripura and have Jhum Cultivation and hunting of wild animals as their main occupation.
  • Culture and belief:
    • converted to Christianity and still follow Christianity as their religion.
    • Their Cheraw Dance (Bamboo Dance) is quiet famous.

About Phtheirospermum Lushaiorum

  • This plant lacks a fully developed root system and taps into the sap of host plants through specialized structures known as haustoria.
  • Despite its parasitic nature, it contains chlorophyll and can produce its food, showing some independence from its host.
  • It flowers from July to September, with fruit production occurring from August to October.
  • The plant grows near a popular trekking route in Phawngpui National Park, facing threats from both anthropogenic activities and natural factors.

Back2Basics: Phawngpui National Park

    • Also known as Blue Mountain National Park, it is one of the two national parks in Mizoram (the other being Murlen NP).
  • Geographical location:
      • Close to the border with Burma (Myanmar).
      • The park overlooks the Chhimtuipui River, which flows toward Burma.
      • The geography of Phawngpui is characterized by its cloud-covered mountain area, which gives it a distinctive blue appearance from a distance.
  • Flora and Fauna:
      • Bird species:Blyth’s tragopan, falcons, sunbirds, dark-rumped swifts, and the Mizoram state bird, Mrs. Hume’s pheasant.
      • Mammals: Mountain goat, slow loris, tiger, leopard, leopard cat, serow, goral, Asiatic black bear, stump-tailed macaque, and capped langur. 
  • Flora: Grassy meadows, orchids, rhododendrons, and bamboo groves.

 

PYQ:

[2016] Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 meters and has orange-coloured fruit pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered?

(a) Andaman Islands

(b) Anaimalai Forests

(c) Maikala Hills

(d) Tropical rain forests of Northeast


Join the Community

Join us across Social Media platforms.