Mumbai Researchers Discover New Flowering Tree Species Mitrephora Rashmiae

MUMBAI — A team of researchers from the Mumbai-based Thackeray Wildlife Foundation has discovered a new species of flowering tree in the remote forests of Arunachal Pradesh. The discovery of the rare species, located in the Upper Subansiri district, was reported on July 10, 2026.

The newly identified tree species has been officially named Mitrephora rashmiae. The name was chosen in honour of Rashmi Thackeray, who is the wife of the former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

According to the research team, this botanical discovery is highly significant because the species is exceptionally rare. At the time of its reporting, Mitrephora rashmiae is known to exist from only a single tree in the wild.

The tree belongs to the custard apple family, a group of flowering plants. The discovery was made during field research conducted by the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation, which operates out of Mumbai. The researchers found the single specimen in the dense, remote forested areas of the Upper Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh.

As of July 10, 2026, no other specimens of this tree have been found, making the single tree in Upper Subansiri the only known representative of Mitrephora rashmiae in the wild. The successful identification of the species by the Mumbai-based foundation adds a new member to the custard apple family and highlights the diverse flora present in the remote regions of northeastern India.