In the mountain forests of central Peru, where mist spreads over the treetops at an altitude of one and a half thousand meters, scientists have found something not seen in the country for more than nine decades. A small tree with rough leaves and spherical inflorescences turned out to be a species new to science in the genus Neea — Neea myrciifolia from the family Nyctaginaceae. The discovery, published in Kew Bulletin, is the first description of a new representative of this genus in Peru since the 1930s.
The plant was found within three protected areas: Bosque de Protección San Matías–San Carlos, Yanachaga–Chemillén National Park, and the Yanesha Reserve. The expedition, involving specialists from Brazil and Peru, worked in the province of Oxapampa in the Pasco region. The tree's height ranges from one to five meters, leaves are opposite and covered with a warty surface, and flowers are gathered in dense spherical inflorescences of tubular shape. The species' range is limited to central Peru's selva at elevations from 376 to 1500 meters above sea level, making it an endemic with high conservation value.
The research was led by Daniel da Silva and Francisco Farronay from the National Institute of Amazonian Research, joined by colleagues from the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, the Selva Central Oxapampa Herbarium, and the Federal University of Paraíba. Peru's Ministry of the Environment emphasized that the find confirms that even in seemingly well-studied areas of protected forests, species unknown to science continue to hide. Apparently, such areas serve as a kind of "living archives," where evolution has preserved forms that did not make it into earlier herbaria.
The significance of the discovery goes beyond simple taxonomy. Protected zones created decades ago once again prove their role in conserving biodiversity. When forests remain untouched, they continue to "tell" about themselves with new pages — and this applies not only to rare trees but also to those small inhabitants that support nutrient cycling and the stability of the entire system.
For local communities and future generations, such finds become an argument for strict protection. Each new species is not just a line in a catalog but a potential source of knowledge about medicinal properties, disease resistance, or adaptation to a changing climate. In the case of Neea myrciifolia, there is no data yet on practical use, but the very fact of its presence within protected boundaries strengthens arguments for preserving ecosystem integrity.
Researchers note that working in hard-to-reach mountain forests requires time and international cooperation. Preliminary observations show that the species apparently has a narrow range and depends on specific humidity and soil conditions. This makes it vulnerable even with minimal human intervention. Therefore, the status of protected areas remains a key factor allowing such plants to exist and be discovered.
