In Brief:
- Researchers from Annamalai University and Government Siddha Medical College discovered a new mint family (Lamiaceae) species.
- Standing roughly 15 cm tall, the plant features an upright unbranched stem, a shallow web of fibrous roots, and golden-yellow fruit with dark brown spots.
- Due to its localized range and threats like coastal development and animal grazing, researchers have provisionally classified the species as "Data Deficient".
Botanists in Tamil Nadu have formally described a new plant species, Leucas droupadiae, discovered along the coastal sand dunes of Cuddalore district on the Coromandel Coast. Published in the international taxonomy journal Phytotaxa, the discovery highlights the unique biodiversity surviving in India's coastal dune ecosystems. Belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae), the 15-centimetre-tall herb sets itself apart from related species through its single unbranched stem, shallow root network, and distinct golden-yellow nutlets dotted with dark brown markings.
The newly identified plant has been provisionally designated as "Data Deficient" to prompt further surveys and conservation efforts across similar coastal habitats.
