ITANAGAR, 22 Sep: Botanists recently rediscovered the smilax turbans, a long-lost plant species akin to a well-known Ayurvedic therapeutic plant, in the pristine forests of Kurung Kumey district, 500 kms away from where it was last collected 95 years ago.
The plant, an endemic species of Arunachal Pradesh, is a wild counterpart of Chopchini, also known as smilux china, a well-known Ayurvedic therapeutic plant, according to a report in the website of the union science & technology department.
It was last collected in 1928 by F Kingdon-Ward, and the researchers presented a detailed description, illustrations, microscopic images, distribution, phenology, field and comparisons with closely related species after the rediscovery to facilitate its identification and eventual conservation.
The feat came during recent exploratory endeavours aimed at locating it the wild relative of Chopchini (smilux china) in the country.
Ritesh Kumar Choudhary, a leading scientist of Pune (Maharashtra)-based Agharkar Research Institute and his doctoral student Geetika Sukhramani identified the plant blooming in Kurung Kumey district. The information about the rediscovery was uploaded to the website.
According to the report, the rediscovery is not only a scientific milestone but also holds immense ecological importance. The researchers will now explore the role of this native species in the local ecosystem and its interaction with other flora and fauna.
The findings could potentially have implications for medicinal research as various smilax species have been known for their therapeutic properties in traditional medicine, it said.
Chopchini possesses anti-inflammatory properties and enhances the functioning of the immune system, besides overall wellbeing. Along with these are its beneficial effects on reproductive health and gastrointestinal system, which makes Chopchini a highly valuable botanical resource for traditional Ayurvedic therapy.
Meanwhile, a comprehensive report has been compiled for the Arunachal forest department to protect the rediscovered plant species from any risks and assure its long-term survival, the website said.
The rediscovery underlines the importance of preserving unique bio-diverse ecosystems, and offers scientists the opportunity to learn more about the species. It can also lead to the development of new pharmaceuticals, herbal remedies, or agricultural commodities that could benefit human health and livelihoods, the report said.
It also suggested ways of examining and preserving smilax turbans within its indigenous environment while also conducting rigorous surveillance of its population dynamics and ecological interrelationships.
There are approximately 262 distinct species of the plant across the globe, with 39 of them growing in India, it said.
Smilax turbans first came to light in the early 20th century when it was described by scientists FT Wang and Tang, based on specimens collected between 1911 and 1928 by botanists IH Burkill and F Kingdon-Ward during their explorations in Arunachal.
After its initial identification, the plant seemingly vanished from the scientific records and remained hidden from the world for 95 long years.
Choudhary said, “Rediscovering smilax turbans after almost a century is a remarkable achievement for the scientific community. This extraordinary plant, which was neglected and underexplored, has long been considered a holy grail of botanical rediscoveries, and our successful efforts are testament to the significance of preserving biodiversity and conducting thorough explorations in remote regions.”
The rediscovery of smilax turbans serves as a reminder of the mysteries that still lie hidden in the world’s most remote and biodiverse regions and the importance of preserving these unique ecosystems, he added. (PTI)
