Doomdooma, Oct. 8 -- A small wildlife sanctuary in Upper Assam's Tinsukia district has yielded a notable botanical discovery, with researchers documenting the spiny-fruited wild cucumber Cucumis hystrix Chakrav. in the Bherjan-Borajan-Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary and reporting it as a new addition to Assam's flora.

The discovery was made during a systematic study of the Cucurbitaceae, or gourd family, conducted by Daimalu Baro of Tinsukia College and Amal Bawri of the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research.

Their study, titled "Diversity of Cucurbitaceae Juss. in Bherjan-Borajan-Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, with Cucumis hystrix Chakrav. as a new addition to the state flora," was published online on October ...