Begonia neelamorum: New Plant Species Found Along Arunachal’s Keyi River

A new species of Begonia, Begonia neelamorum, has been described from Arunachal Pradesh’s Keyi Panyor district, taking the number of Begonia species recorded from Northeast India to 54, according to a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Taiwania.

The species was documented by researchers Dipankar Borah, Madhusudhan Khanal, Momang Taram and Neelam Gap. Their paper was published on August 5, 2026, in Taiwania. The researchers encountered the plant during an expedition to a remote river valley and collected the type specimen on May 24, 2026.

Detailed morphological examination of fresh and dried material, relevant literature and herbarium specimens was used to establish that the plant did not correspond to any previously described species, leading researchers to recognise it as new to science.

Begonia neelamorum was found growing on steep, moist walls along the Keyi River at an elevation of about 1,000 metres. The small, tuberous plant has a single, sessile, light-green leaf and produces white male and female flowers. Researchers recorded four populations within an area of about three square kilometres.

The species resembles Begonia prolifera, sharing a globose tuber, a single light-green leaf, basal inflorescence and white flowers. However, the study distinguishes it through its glandular-hispid indumentum, terete stem, ovate leaf with double-serrated margins, dichasial cyme and shorter styles.

The researchers named the species after the Neelam clan of the Nyishi community, whose members assisted them during the expedition. The plant is locally known as “kobiirhopu baabrai”. The study also records the species under section Monophyllon of the Begonia genus.

Based on available information, Begonia neelamorum has been provisionally assessed as Data Deficient under IUCN criteria. The researchers recorded the species from a limited known area and said its distribution requires further assessment.

With the description of the new species, the number of Begonia species in section Monophyllon has increased to six, while the total recorded from Northeast India has reached 54. The genus Begonia has around 2,200 accepted species worldwide, according to the study.