New White-Flowered Herb Variety Found in Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR : A tiny white-flowered herb growing quietly in a marshy patch near a water rivulet in Chhota Udepur has now earned a place in Gujarat’s botanical record. Researchers from the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation (GEER Foundation) have identified and formally described it as a new variety of Rungia repens, naming it Rungia repens var. alba.

The discovery was made during a biodiversity survey in the Narmada Canal Command Area near Khapariya village and has added a new documented variation to the state’s already diverse flora.

“The newly identified variety has been named Rungia repens var. alba, with ‘alba’ referring to its white-coloured flowers. I congratulate the GEER Foundation researchers on this discovery,” Forests and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said.

The survey was undertaken as part of the project ‘Impact of Narmada Canal System on Environment and Ecology (Biodiversity, Soil and Water Quality) in Central Gujarat and Parts of South Gujarat’, funded by Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited.

According to forest officials, Gujarat has so far recorded 1,114 herb species. The latest discovery, officials said, underlines the importance of continuing detailed biodiversity surveys across changing ecological landscapes.

Minister of State for Forests and Environment Pravin Mali said the state government was committed to documenting and protecting its floral wealth.

“The finding underscores the role of systematic biodiversity surveys in documenting plant diversity and previously unrecorded variations in Gujarat’s changing ecological landscapes,” Mali said.

Researchers recorded three mature plants of the new variety. A specimen was collected, dried and mounted on a herbarium sheet, with the voucher specimen deposited at the GEER Foundation Herbarium.

The most striking feature of the new variety is its colour. While the commonly found Rungia repens has bluish-purple flowers, the newly identified variety bears pure white flowers.

“The new variety differs from typical Rungia repens in several characteristics, including its pure white corolla, medium-sized flower spikes and smaller bracts with greenish-white pointed tips,” said Dr Rajkumar Yadav, a member of the research team.

The plant is a small erect or diffuse herb, measuring around 8–10 cm in height. It has a glabrous cylindrical stem that often roots near the base, while its leaves measure about 2–8 cm by 1–3 cm.

The researchers found the plant in a marshy habitat with rocky substratum near a water rivulet. Its flowering season was recorded from February to April, followed by fruiting between May and June. This is notably different from typical Rungia repens, which generally flowers from August to January.

The type specimen was collected on November 14, 2025, from Khapariya village at an elevation of around 113 metres.

The researchers did not stop at field observations. The specimen was compared with existing Rungia repens specimens preserved at the Kew (K), JCB and CAL herbaria. Detailed morphological comparisons established sufficient differences to recognise it as a distinct variety.

“The discovery followed a detailed morphological examination and comparison with existing specimens. The white-flowered plants displayed several morphological differences from the commonly observed blue-flowered form,” said Amitkumar Nayak, Deputy Director, GEER Foundation.

The discovery has been accepted for publication in Indian Forester, one of the oldest international forestry journals, according to Yadav.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Dr Jaipal Singh said the finding added another documented botanical variation to Gujarat’s biodiversity record and highlighted the need for continued surveys in areas influenced by the Narmada Canal System.

The research team comprised Rajkumar Yadav, Naman Nayak, Vinesh Gamit, Amitkumar Nayak and B.P. Pati.

Meanwhile, the GEER Foundation Herbarium has also received the official acronym GEERFH from Index Herbariorum, hosted by The New York Botanical Garden. The herbarium currently houses around 3,107 plant specimens collected across Gujarat, covering trees, shrubs, climbers, herbs, grasses, aquatic flora, lower plants and all 14 mangrove species found in the state.

“This registry will enable researchers worldwide to seamlessly search, reference and cite the foundation’s collection,” said GEER Foundation Director B.P. Pati.