Portulaca Laljii: A new species of wild sun rose

Portulaca Laljii: A new species of wild sun rose

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Biodiversity

In news 

• Botanists have discovered a new species of wild sun rose from the Eastern Ghats in India.

Key takeaways 

• The new species, named Portulaca laljii was discovered from Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. 
• It has unique features such as a tuberous root, no hair in its leaf axils, a reddish pink flower, prolate-shaped fruits, and copper brown seeds without lustre.
• The flowers are very attractive and bloom for months from June to February.
• The plant bears beautiful, tiny pink flowers for eight months. 
• It is because of the succulent nature of tuberous roots that the plant can survive on rocky crevices.

Do you know? 

• Portulaca laljii has been named to honour the contribution of Lal Ji Singh, an eminent botanist of the Botanical Survey of India associated with its Andaman and Nicobar Centre.