In a remarkable discovery, a team of scientists from the North East Institute of Science & Technology (NEIST), based in Jorhat, Assam, has identified a new plant species in the Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh. The species, named ‘𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶’, honors NEIST’s 60-year legacy and its contributions to science and technology in Northeast India.
The research team, including Dr. Pankaj Bharali, Dr. Nazir Ahmed Bhat, and Bipankar Hajong, confirmed that the newly discovered species belongs to the begonia sect platycentrum, a genus with over 2,100 species globally valued for their ornamental beauty. The diverse climate, altitudes, and unique topography of Arunachal Pradesh have fostered a rich collection of begonia species, making it a hotspot for botanical discoveries.