Crassicaulis middletonii
In a remarkable botanical breakthrough, scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) recently discovered a new flowering plant species — Crassicaulis middletonii.
About Crassicaulis middletonii
This is a newly discovered species of flowering plant that has created significant interest in the botanical community.
Key Facts about Crassicaulis middletonii
- Taxonomy: It is a species of perennial herb belonging to the family Gesneriaceae (the same family as African violets and Gloxinia).
- Discovery: It was recently discovered in the Eastern Himalayas during a botanical survey in the West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India (published in 2025).
- Significance: Its discovery marks the first-ever record of the genus Crassicaulis in India. The genus was previously only known from one species, Crassicaulis guiliangii, found in Yunnan, China. This discovery extends the known range of the genus significantly.
Appearance:
- It is an erect herb, growing up to 30 cm tall.
- It has ovate leaves with a distinctive cordate (heart-shaped) to lobed base.
- It features white flowers that sometimes have a pale pinkish tinge at the lobes.
- Habitat: It thrives along stream banks near small waterfalls in evergreen forests, at an elevation of about 800 meters.
- Conservation Status: Due to its extremely restricted range (only about 50 individuals were found in one population) and the threat from human activities like grazing and cultivation, it has been assessed as "Critically Endangered" under the IUCN Red List criteria.
- Etymology: The species is named in honor of Dr. David J. Middleton, a noted plant taxonomist for his contributions to the study of the Gesneriaceae family in Asia.
In summary, Crassicaulis middletonii is a critically endangered plant species and a new generic record for India, highlighting the rich and vulnerable biodiversity of the Eastern Himalayas.
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