Endangered African Violet species found in Mizoram for first time in India

AIZAWL: The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal scientists have found a new species of 'African Violet' in Mizoram for the first in India.

The newly discovered species, Didymocarpus vickifunkiae is categorised as endangered species, an epiphyte - grows on other trees - and produces pink colored flowers during the monsoons.

The species have been named after renowned botanist Vicki Ann Funk.

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The findings have been published in a journal named Systematic Botany, co-authored by research scholar Prasanna N.S. and Vinita Gowda, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at IISER Bhopal.

“Commonly known as African violets, Didymocarpus is a genus belonging to the plant family Gesneriaceae whose members are distributed in Asia from Western Himalayas to Sumatra,” Dr. Gowda said.

African violets, native to Tanzania and Kenya have been popular in the horticultural world, often used indoors in European countries.

This plant could be found only in three locations near the north-eastern State’s border with Myanmar.

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