In recent news, a team of scientists has remarkably rediscovered a rare plant species, the Globba andersonii, which was previously thought to be extinct. This species was found in the Teesta river valley region of the Sikkim Himalayas, nearly 136 years after it’s last sighting. It was originally discovered during the period of 1862-70 by the Scottish botanist Thomas Anderson and later collected by the British botanist Sir George King in 1875, both in Sikkim, and Darjeeling.
Key Features of the Globba Andersonii
The Globba andersonii, commonly known as ‘dancing ladies’ or ‘swan flowers’, is characterized by its striking white flowers and non-attached anthers, which are the part of a stamen that contains the pollen. Before its recent rediscovery, this species was believed to have gone extinct after 1875 when it was last collected. Currently, the species is enlisted as “Endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, signifying the critical need for its conservation.
Narrowly Endemic Habitat of the Species
Another unique feature of the Globba andersonii is its narrowly endemic habitat. The term ‘narrowly endemic’ means that the species is restricted mainly to specific regions. For this species, the confinement is within the Teesta River Valley region, which encompasses the Sikkim Himalayas and Darjeeling hill ranges.
In these areas, the plant usually grows in dense colonies as a lithophyte, a type of plant that lives on bare rock or stone. These colonies are more often found on rocky slopes at the periphery of evergreen forests. These regions where the plant grows are especially prevalent near small waterfalls along roadsides leading to these hill forests, which are situated 400-800 m above sea level.
Significance of the Rediscovery
The rediscovery of Globba andersonii adds to the rich biodiversity of the Sikkim Himalayas. It underlines the importance of conserving habitats like these, which might be home to many other unknown or presumed extinct species. The reemergence of ‘dancing ladies’ also paves the way for additional research in the fields of botany and ecology, as it provides opportunities to study the plant’s unique traits, adaptability, and its potential benefits.
Preserving the Endangered Species
With the species being listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List, there is an immediate need for measures to conserve this unique species. The information about its habitat provides valuable insights into creating suitable protection plans. These can involve preserving its natural habitat, promoting its growth, monitoring the population, and implementing laws to prevent any harm to these plants.
In closing, the rediscovery of the Globba Andersonii brings a fresh wave of enthusiasm to the scientific community. It provides a renewed hope for the possibility of discovering or rediscovering more such species in the untouched and often inaccessible terrains of the world.
