Didymocarpus janakiae

26.06.2024

Didymocarpus janakiae

Why in the news?

A new plant species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh has been named Didymocarpus janakiae.

About Didymocarpus janakiae:

• It is a new species of plant discovered from the subtropical forests of the West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh, at an elevation of 2,300 meters above sea level.
• It has been named in honour of E. K. Janaki Ammal, who is a pioneering Indian botanist known for her contributions to the field of botany, especially plant breeding, genetics, and cytology.

○In 1931, she became the first Indian woman to be awarded a doctorate in botany in the US (University of Michigan), breaking both gender and caste barriers.

• It belongs to the plant genus Didymocarpus, commonly known as stone flower, which is part of the African Violet family (Gesneriaceae).

○The genus consists of 111 species, 27 of which are present in India, including the newly described species D. janakiae.

○They grow in pristine, undisturbed habitats like moss-covered rocks, indicating the quality of the ecosystem.

• With a limited known population of fewer than 20 individuals found in a single location near Bomdila, West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, the D. janakiae faces a critical threat due to habitat degradation.

                                                                           Source: Down to earth

Ques :- The “Didymocarpus janakiae”, recently seen in the news, is a:

A.New Plant Species

B. ozone-depleting agent

C.new commercial satellite

D.New frog Species

Answer A