Melanoseris Pendryi

Melanoseris Pendryi:

A team of botanists has discovered a new plant species in the Sikkim Himalayas named Melanoseris pendryi.

• Melanoseris Pendryi is a new plant species found at altitudes over 4,000m in Sikkim.
• Melanoseris is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Asteraceae.
• Its native range is Iran to Southern Central China and Northern Central Indo-China, Java.
• Features of Melanoseris Pendryi:
  • It has uniquely hairy purple petals high in the alpine grasslands of India.
  • It grows close to the ground amongst cushion-like shrubs, the plant relies on a fleshy, branching root system to survive the harsh alpine conditions.
  • Researchers have suggested it be classified as Critically Endangered due to habitat pressure from tourism and grazing.