A dedicated team of researchers, spearheaded by Professor K. Kotresha, a distinguished botanist from Karnatak Science College, Dharwad, has made an exciting discovery: four brand-new plant species hidden within the lush biodiversity of Karnataka’s Western Ghats. These remarkable findings emerged during their recent botanical explorations.
Professor Kotresha, who heads the Taxonomy and Floristic Laboratory in the Department of Botany at Karnatak University’s Karnatak Science College, confirmed that these discoveries were a result of extensive fieldwork conducted throughout 2024-25. The details of these new species have since been formally published in various prestigious international scientific journals.
Highlighting the vastness of the plant kingdom, Professor Kotresha noted that while an estimated three million plant species exist worldwide, only about 250,000 are currently known to science. This leaves a staggering 2.75 million species still awaiting discovery, underscoring the significance of such expeditions.
As part of an ambitious floristic survey across Karnataka, the team has meticulously explored various districts, successfully completing their work in eight to date. Their ongoing efforts continue to uncover the botanical treasures of the state.
Among the four newly identified species, three were found in distinct locations within the Uttara Kannada district, and one unique plant was discovered in the Shivamogga district.
What Are These New Plant Species?
One of the exciting finds from the Central Western Ghats is Oberonia marnkuliensis (named by Shreyas & Kotresha). This species was located on Marnkuli Hill, specifically in Marnkuli Village, near Talaguppa in the Sagara taluk of Shivamogga district. Its discovery was first announced in the international journal Richardiana.
From the Kali Tiger Reserve in Uttara Kannada district, another new plant, Zeuxine seetharamii (identified by Betageri & Kotresha), was named in honor of the esteemed retired taxonomist Professor Y.N. Seetharam of Gulbarga University’s Department of Botany. This discovery was featured in the Asian Journal of Research in Botany.
A fascinating plant uncovered from Goregudda, Hindgaon, in Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada district, has been christened Parasopubia gorensis (by Patgar, Betageri & Kotresha). This name pays homage to the Goddess Goreshwara temple situated on the Lateritic plateau of ‘Goregudda’. The findings were published in the international journal Phytotaxa.
Finally, near Mirjan Fort in Mirjan village, Kumta taluk, a new species named Utricularia kumtensis (attributed to Kanoj, Patgar, Betageri & Kotresha) was identified. Its publication also appeared in Phytotaxa. These discoveries significantly enhance our knowledge of the region’s botanical diversity.