First sightings or rare sightings

First sightings or rare sightings of flowers in India

This page lists flower species which were sighted by the members of the Flowers of India community, for the first time in India, or first time in a region, or sighted after a long stretch of time.

Bellflower Miliusa -- Miliusa codonantha
Miliusa codonantha is a tree that was first identified and described as a new species in 2013, only from a dried specimen. The botanist who described it, had never seen a live plant, and could not be sure if it was a tree. Thingnam Girija found the tree flowering in Leimaram, Manipur. So, she took the first ever photograph of the live plant. In addition, it was the first record of this tree from Manipur.
Manipur Coneflower -- Strobilanthes recurva
Strobilanthes recurva is a rare plant which was probably last collected in 1948 by F. Kingdon-Ward (according to GBIF). The FOI team comprising Thingnam Girija, Thingnam Rajshree & Tabish found it in growing near a waterfall in Manipur in 2021. So, it appears that it was found after a gap of more than 70 years, at least in Manipur.
Kalam's Cherry -- Eugenia kalamii
Eugenia kalamii was first identified and described as a new species in 2018. However, Prashant Awale had already found it in 2010, in Patharpunj, Maharashtra, without recognizing that it was a new species.
Scully's Balsam -- Impatiens scullyi
Impatiens scullyi was first officially recorded from India in 2019 by Ashutosh Sharma, Nidhan Singh and colleagues. However, Prashant Awale had already found it in 2014, in the Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh, but was unable to identify it.
Lavania Barleria -- Barleria lavaniana
Barleria lavaniana was first identified and described as a new species by in 2019. However, Prashant Awale had already found it in 2009, near Aurangabad Caves, Maharashtra, without recognizing that it was a new species.
Shivanna's Madhu Malati -- Combretum shivannae
Combretum shivannae was first identified and described as a new species by in 2015. However, Prashant Awale had already found it in 2012, in Uttar Kannada, without recognizing that it was a new species.
Garo Balsam -- Impatiens cothurnoides
Impatiens cothurnoides is a rare balsam that was rediscovered in 2020, after a gap of 90 years! However, Barkarine R Marak had already found it in 2011, in Garo Hills, Meghalaya, without recognizing that it was a lost species.
Sahyadri Globe Thistle -- Echinops sahyadricus
Echinops sahyadricus was first identified and described as a new species by Sushant More and colleagues in 2020. However, Prashant Awale had already found it in 2014, at Rajgad Fort, Maharashtra, without recognizing that it was a new species.
Burma Fringe Tree -- Chionanthus henryanus
Chionanthus henryanus was only known from Yunnan and Myanmar. Tabish and Angela Pangkam found it growing wild in East-Siang distt., Arunachal Pradesh in 2019.
Arunachal False Eranthemum -- Pseuderanthemum arunachalense
Pseuderanthemum arunachalense is a new species which was discovered by Dipankar Borah and colleagues in Papum Pare District, Arunachal Pradesh, and described by them in 2020.
Fused-Sepal Lysionotus -- Lysionotus gamosepalus
Lysionotus gamosepalus was only known from Tibet, China. Dipankar Borah and colleagues found it growing wild in Lohit distt., Arunachal Pradesh in 2019.
Multiflowered Henckelia -- Henckelia collegii-sancti-thomasii
Henckelia collegii-sancti-thomasii is a new species which was discovered by Dipankar Borah and colleagues in Papum Pare District, Arunachal Pradesh, and described by them in 2019.
Sticky Eyebright -- Pseudobartsia glandulosa
Pseudobartsia glandulosa is a new species which was rediscovered by Dipankar Borah and colleagues, after a gap of 179 years, in Bomdilla, Arunachal Pradesh, in 2020.
Arunachal Lobelia -- Lobelia arunachalensis
Lobelia arunachalensis is a new species which was discovered by Dipankar Borah and colleagues in Lower Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh, and described by them in 2018.
Arunachal Lobelia -- Lobelia arunachalensis
Lobelia arunachalensis is a new species which was discovered by Dipankar Borah and colleagues in Lower Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh, and described by them in 2018.
Multinerved Boeica -- Boeica multinervia
Boeica multinervia was only known from Yunnan, China. Dipankar Borah and colleagues found it growing wild in Papum Pare distt., Arunachal Pradesh in 2019.
Assam Chlorophytum -- Chlorophytum assamicum
Chlorophytum assamicum is a new species which was discovered by Dipankar Borah and colleagues in Behali Reserve forest, Assam, and described by them in 2019.
Oyu's Begonia -- Begonia oyuniae
Begonia oyuniae is a new species which was discovered by Dipankar Borah and colleagues in Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh, and described by them in 2020.
Hawtoo's Pedicularis -- Pedicularis khoiyangii
Pedicularis khoiyangii is a new species which was discovered by Dipankar Borah and colleagues in Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh, and described by them in 2020.
Assam Pipevine -- Aristolochia assamica
Aristolochia assamica is a new species which was discovered by Dipankar Borah and colleagues in Behali Reserve forest, Assam, and described by them in 2019.
Nirijuli Rhynchotechum -- Rhynchotechum nirijuliense
Rhynchotechum nirijuliense is a new species which was discovered by Dipankar Borah and colleagues in Papum Pare District, Arunachal Pradesh, and described by them in 2020.
Tawang Coneflower -- Strobilanthes twangensis
Strobilanthes twangensis is a new species which was discovered by Dipankar Borah and colleagues in Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh, and described by them in 2019.
Himalayan Sapria -- Sapria himalayana
Sapria himalayana is an endangered plant found only in Arunachal Pradesh. In 1938 it was known to grow in Assam, Manipur, and Meghalaya, but subsequently was not found in these regions. Kanshouwa Susie found it growing wild in Machi village, in Chandel distt, Manipur in October 2018.
Runner-Forming Balsam -- Impatiens stolonifera
Impatiens stolonifera is a species which has been described only in 2017. Jis Sebastian found it growing wild in Devikulam, Kerala in 2013.
Merak White Poppy -- Meconopsis merakensis var. albolutea
Meconopsis merakensis var. albolutea is a species which has been described only in 2017. Tabish and Girija found it growing wild in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh in 2013.
Large-Spike Stone Flower -- Henckelia macrostachya
Henckelia macrostachya was thought to be extinct, but was rediscovered in 2013, after a gap of 75 years. Prashant Awale found it growing in Kerala in 2018.
Ovate-Leaf Pipevine -- Aristolochia ovatifolia
Aristolochia ovatifolia is only known from China. Thingnam Rajshree found it growing wild at Shirui hill in Ukhrul, Manipur in 2018.
Nilgiri Barberry -- Berberis nilghiriensis
Berberis nilghiriensis was believed to be extinct, but was rediscovered after about 140 years, in 2012. S. Jeevith found it independently in 2017 in Nilgiri hills.
Translucent Cobra Lily -- Arisaema translucens
S. Jeevith found Arisaema translucens in 2017 in Nilgiri hills, after a gap of 84 years!
Shining Ceropegia -- Ceropegia lucida
Ceropegia lucida was presumed to be extinct but has been rediscovered by Dharmendra Khandal in 2017, in Arunachal Pradesh, after a gap of 142 years.
Sepalous Barleria -- Barleria sepalosa
Barleria sepalosa was rediscovered in 2014 after lapse of 128 years. Sushant More and Maniruddin Dhabak found it in 2017, in Maharashtra.
Lahaul Broomrape -- Orobanche hansii
Orobanche hansii was collected in 1858 from Lahaul Valley. It has not been reported after that. Thingnam Girija rediscovered it in Lahaul in 2015, after more than 150 years!
Long-Stalk Kadsura -- Kadsura longipedunculata
Kadsura longipedunculata is only known from China & Vietnam. Thingnam Girija found it growing wild in Pelling, Sikkim in 2016.
Thwaites Vanda -- Vanda thwaitesii
Vanda thwaitesii was believed to be extinct, and has only recently been rediscovered. P.S. Sivaprasad found it independently in 2015, in Kerala.
Malabar Daffodil Orchid -- Ipsea malabarica
Ipsea malabarica was believed to be extinct, but was rediscovered in 1982 from Silent Valley. P.S. Sivaprasad found it independently in Silent Valley in Kerala.
Dravid's Pepper -- Piper dravidii
Piper dravidii was first described in 2014. However, Prashant Awale had already found it in 2011, in North Karnataka.
Wight's Short-Helmet Orchid -- Brachycorythis wightii
Brachycorythis wightii was believed to be extinct, and has only recently been rediscovered. Dinesh Valke found it independently in 2014, in Kerala.
Evans Ceropegia -- Ceropegia evansii
Ceropegia evansii had disappeared after 1964, but was rediscovered in 2003. Sushant More found it independently in 2013, in Maharashtra.
Kafir Marsh Orchid -- Dactylorhiza kafiriana
Thingnam Girija and Tabish found Dactylorhiza kafiriana in Ladakh in 2012, after a gap of 50 years since it was first found in India in Kashmir by Renz in 1961.
Yellow Himalayan Fritillary -- Fritillaria przewalskii
Fritillaria przewalskii is only known from North-Central and South-Central China. Tabish and Thingnam Girija found it growing wild in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh in 2010, which makes it a new record of the species for India.
Delavay Oxygraphis -- Oxygraphis delavayi
Oxygraphis delavayi was considered endemic to China. Thingnam Girija found it in Arunachal Pradesh in 2010. It was officially reported for the first time from India, only in 2016 -- .
Palghat Coneflower -- Strobilanthes dupeni
Strobilanthes dupeni was believed to be extinct, and was rediscovered in 1996 after a gap of 112 years. P.S. Sivaprasad found it independently in 2010, in Kerala.
Striped Dewflower -- Murdannia striatipetala
Murdannia striatipetala was last collected by botanist Barnes from Tambaram district in 1899, and was believed to be extinct from India. Divya Umesh found this flower near Red Hills in Chennai, in 2010, after a gap of more than a century!
Mountain Balsam -- Impatiens monticola
Impatiens monticola is only known from China. Thingnam Sophia found it growing wild at a waterfall in Leimaram, Manipur in 2008.
Woodrow's Crinum Lily -- Crinum woodrowii
Crinum woodrowii was believed to be extinct, but was rediscovered in 2004, after a gap of about 100 years! Dinesh Valke found it independently in 2008, in Maharashtra.
Mary Legge's Balsam -- Impatiens leggei
Impatiens leggei was first described in 2010. However, Pravin Kawale had already found it in 2008, in the Valley of Flowers.
Devendra's Balsam -- Impatiens devendrae
Impatiens devendrae was first described in 2010. However, Pravin Kawale had already found it in 2008, in the Valley of Flowers and Tabish & Girija found it in Dhanaulti in 2010.
Leafy Coneflower -- Strobilanthes frondosa
Strobilanthes frondosa was first named only as recently as 1994. Prashant Awale was the first to photograph a living plant of this species in 2008, in Mizoram.
Spotted Coneflower -- Strobilanthes maculatus
Strobilanthes maculatus was first described in 1816. Prashant Awale was the first to photograph a living plant of this species in 2008, in Mizoram.
Chamoli Sandwort -- Arenaria curvifolia
Arenaria curvifolia was first collected by J.F.Duthie from Garhwal Himalaya in 1885. It was never seen after that. D.S. Rawat and colleagues rediscovered it in 2006, after a gap of 121 years!
Magenta Ghost Flower -- Christisonia tubulosa
Christisonia tubulosa was believed to be extinct, but was rediscovered in 2003, after 90 years! Prashant Awale found it independently in 2006, in Kerala.