A new species of tree from the Garcinia genus has been discovered in Assam’s Baksa district and named Garcinia kusumae in honour of Kusum Devi, the late mother of Jatindra Sarma, Chairman of the Assam State Expert Appraisal Committee.

The species was identified during a botanical survey conducted in April at Bamunbari. Locally known as thoikora, the evergreen tree grows up to 18 metres tall, flowers from February to April, and bears fruit between May and June.

The discovery has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Feddes Repertorium. The research was jointly authored by Jatindra Sarma and Hussain A. Barbhuiya of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai.

Garcinia kusumae is distinguished by its unique morphological features, including the number of staminate flowers per fascicle and the presence of blackish resinous exudations in its berries.

In Assam, Garcinia species are valued for their medicinal and culinary uses. The sun-dried pulp is used to prepare drinks and enhance fish curries, while the fruit is traditionally used to treat conditions such as diabetes and dysentery.

This marks the fourth time Jatindra Sarma has named a newly discovered plant species after a member of his family.