Scientists have discovered a rare tropical tree species, Goniocheton arborescens, on the Indian mainland for the first time, significantly expanding the country’s known botanical range. Earlier, the species had been recorded in India only from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The discovery was made at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh by botanists Karnan Jeyaprakash and Kaliamoorthy Ravikumar during field surveys at the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research campus. Detailed comparison with historical herbarium records, including specimens from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, confirmed that the tree had never been documented on mainland India.
Globally found across Southeast Asia and parts of the Pacific, the species’ presence in Arunachal marks a major northward range extension. The finding highlights the Northeast as a vital but underexplored biodiversity region and raises questions about plant migration and past forest connections.
The tree, which can grow up to 20 metres tall, bears bright pinkish-red fruits and supports forest wildlife. Though listed as “Least Concern”, only three individuals were recorded, prompting calls for closer ecological monitoring and conservation efforts.
