BNH finds four new plant species since 2009

Bangladesh National Herbarium (BNH) has discovered four new plant species and four plant varieties through floristic research since 2009, having very important contribution to the country's flora, reports BSS.

The newly discovered plant species were: Colocasia hassanii, Alocasia hararganjensis, Typhonium elatum and Alocasia salarkhanii, while four varieties were: Rhapidophora calophyllum var. violaceus, Colocasia oresbia var. stolonifera, Typhonium trilobetum var. fulvus and Colocasia fallax var. purpurea, according to an official document attained by the news agency.

BNH, the national research agency for plant taxonomic research and museum of dried plant specimens, found the plant species by conducting field research in different parts of the country.

The research agency recorded 346 plant species for Bangladesh through floristic research since 2009, while it rediscovered 67 plant species, which is a very important achievement for the flora of the country.

Under a project titled 'Survey of Vascular Flora of Chattogram and the Chattogram Hill Tracts (SVFC)' during the period of 2015-18, the national herbarium conducted plant survey and data collection in the most biodiversity-rich regions of the country - Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Khagrachari, Bandarban and Rangamati.

Under the project, 45,146 plant specimens (1,50,000 specimens with duplicates) were collected, identified and processed and preserved in scientific manner by preparing herbarium sheets.

On the other hand, 92 plant species that are new to Bangladesh have been discovered during identification through plant taxonomic research of these collected plant samples.

However, 344 plant species were identified as endangered by analysing data obtained from the project area through field survey.

The book titled 'Vascular Flora of Chattogram and the Chattogram Hill Tracts' was published in three volumes containing pictorial descriptions of 2,916 vascular plants under the project, which is a milestone in the botanical history of this country.

An e-database of information, including pictures of all the plant species, has been prepared too.