Guwahati, July 11 -- A team of Indian and international botanists has discovered a new high-altitude shrub species in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district, one that sets a global record for its genus in terms of ovule count.

Named Berberis myriovula, this rare plant was found growing at elevations between 3,700 and 4,000 metres in the Bangajaan area, marking a significant addition to botanical science.

Described in the latest issue of the scientific journal Taiwania, the discovery stands out not only for being a new species but for its exceptional reproductive biology. The plant's ovary contains 15-17 ovules-more than any other known species in the Berberis genus, which usually bears far fewer.

The study was led by botanists Bipankar Ha...