Guwahati, Oct. 22 -- Researchers have identified a new flowering plant species in Manas National Park, adding to the region's botanical diversity and highlighting the ecological importance of its grasslands.

The plant, named Osbeckia assamensis, belongs to the Melastomataceae family and has been described by Barnali Das and Professor Namita Nath, botanists from Gauhati University, in a study published in the journal Phytotaxa on October 22. Das is also affiliated with Pragjyotish College, Guwahati.

The species was found growing in grasslands within Manas National Park, where researchers observed it during floristic surveys conducted between 2021 and 2025. The area forms part of the foothills of the Himalayas.

The newly described plant ...