Quick answer: Disporum kamakhasiense is a newly described perennial herb of the family Colchicaceae, found at three forest sites in Assam and Meghalaya. Its description in the botanical journal Novon was reported on 4 November 2026, and the authors have flagged it as “potentially endangered”.
Why Disporum kamakhasiense is in the news
On 4 November 2026, India Today NE reported that a team of five botanists had named a new flowering plant from Northeast India. The paper, published in Novon, an international journal of plant taxonomy, lists Dixit Bora, Biswajit Paul, Devanjal Bora, Aaron Floden and Dipankar Borah as authors. They collected the plant from one forest in Meghalaya and two locations in Assam. Each site holds only a few small groups with very few plants, so the team has asked for more fieldwork to fix its conservation status.
Where the new plant was found
| Site | State | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Garbhanga Reserve Forest | Assam | Reserve forest near Guwahati |
| Laisong | Assam | In Dima Hasao district |
| Barapani area | Meghalaya | Only site outside Assam |
The plant grows on cliff faces, mostly under bamboo cover, between about 200 and 1,100 metres above sea level. Researchers also recorded it next to Peristylus constrictus and species of Phyllanthus.
Key facts about Disporum kamakhasiense
- Family: It belongs to Colchicaceae, the same family that includes the genus Colchicum.
- Life form: It is a perennial herb, so it lives for more than two years.
- Height: It can reach about 180 cm. Its nearest relative, Disporum calcaratum, usually stops at about 100 cm.
- Look: It has heavily branched stems, broad yellowish-green leaves with clear veins, and white, star-shaped flowers.
- Name: “Kamakhasiense” joins Kamrupa, the old name of Assam, with the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya.
- Threat level: The authors call it “potentially endangered” and list road widening, over-exploitation and deforestation as threats.
How it differs from its relatives
The new species looks like some Disporum plants of Thailand and Myanmar, but the researchers point to clear differences. It is larger, its leaves are smooth, its flower stalks are longer, and its stamens are shorter and thicker. In plant taxonomy, small details of flower structure like these often decide whether a plant counts as a new species.
Disporum plants are often called “fairy bells”. The genus has about 20 species, spread across Asia from northern India to Japan, south to Indonesia and north into the Russian Far East.
Why a small range matters
A species known from only three sites, each with a handful of plants, has very little buffer. If a road is widened past one cliff, or one forest patch is cleared, a large share of all known plants could be lost before scientists finish a formal assessment. That is why the authors want further surveys before an official threat category is given. For aspirants, the case is a good example of how a new species is named first and assessed later, and why “data deficient” or “potentially endangered” labels are common for newly found plants.
Exam angle: how NDA, CDS and CAPF can ask this
- NDA and CDS geography papers often ask about the physical divisions of Meghalaya: the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
- Questions on biodiversity hotspots (Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Sundaland) are common in general studies papers.
- Old names of Indian regions, such as Kamrupa for Assam, appear in history and culture questions.
- Learn the IUCN categories (Least Concern up to Critically Endangered) so you can read terms like “potentially endangered” correctly.
Practice MCQs
Q1. Disporum kamakhasiense, reported in November 2026, belongs to which plant family?
(a) Orchidaceae (b) Colchicaceae (c) Zingiberaceae (d) Poaceae
Answer: (b) — the describing authors place it in Colchicaceae.
Q2. The name “kamakhasiense” refers to:
(a) Kamakhya temple and Shillong (b) Kamrupa and the Khasi Hills (c) Kameng and Khasi Hills (d) Kamrup and Kaziranga
Answer: (b) — Kamrupa is the ancient name of Assam; the Khasi Hills are in Meghalaya.
Q3. Laisong, one of the sites where the plant was found, lies in which district of Assam?
(a) Karbi Anglong (b) Dima Hasao (c) Kamrup Metropolitan (d) Cachar
Answer: (b) — Laisong is in Dima Hasao district.
Q4. Which of these threats did the researchers name for the new species?
(a) Forest fires only (b) Road expansion, over-exploitation and deforestation (c) Invasive fish (d) Mining of coal only
Answer: (b) — these three threats are cited in the study.
Frequently asked questions
What is Disporum kamakhasiense?
It is a newly described perennial herb of the family Colchicaceae, found in forests of Assam and Meghalaya. It grows up to about 180 cm tall and has white, star-shaped flowers.
Where was Disporum kamakhasiense discovered?
It was recorded at Garbhanga Reserve Forest and Laisong (Dima Hasao) in Assam, and in the Barapani area of Meghalaya.
In which journal was the species published?
The description appeared in Novon, an international botanical journal, as reported on 4 November 2026.
Is Disporum kamakhasiense endangered?
It has not yet been formally assessed. The authors describe it as “potentially endangered” because only a few small populations are known.
Which is its closest known relative?
Its closest relative is Disporum calcaratum, which usually grows to about 100 cm, much shorter than the new species.
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Sources: India Today NE, Disporum (genus overview). Facts as reported up to 6 November 2026.
Featured image background (representative): Ishanjyotibora / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
