JODHPUR, July 10 -- A plant species that had vanished from scientific records for more than 150 years has been rediscovered in the rocky plateaus of Sikar district. Tribulus cistoides (Local name Badi Kanti) was first described by Linnaeus in 1753 on the basis of presence of intrastaminal glands united with 5-lobed rings. It has now been located in its new habitat by Dr CS Purohit, deputy director and his team from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Jodhpur. "A small population of 20-30 individual plants was found during a recent field exploration of Flora of Indian desert... This rediscovery marks the first documented sighting of the species from wild and rediscovery from India after a lapse of 150 years," said Dr Purohit. Dr Purohit, one of the lead authors of the rediscovery, emphasized the ecological significance of the finding. "Its occurrence in a very small population and in a typical rocky, moist habitat indicates that this species is in danger of existence. Further studies are required to assess its IUCN status," he said. Rajasthan hosts about five species and two varieties including this species of the genus. This discovery has been published in International Journal Turczaninowia and published from Altai State University....