First New Neea Plant Species in Peru Discovered in Central Jungle After Nearly a Century

Scientists have discovered the first new species of the plant genus Neea in Peru in over nine decades. The finding, named Neea myrciifolia, was made during an international expedition in the central jungle of Peru.

The discovery took place in the montane forests of Oxapampa province, within the San Matías-San Carlos Protection Forest and the Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park and Yanesha Communal Reserve. These areas are managed by the National Service of Natural Protected Areas for the State (Sernanp).

According to the study published in the Kew Bulletin, Neea myrciifolia is a small tree, standing between one and five meters tall. It features opposite leaves with a warty surface and has globose inflorescences and tubular flowers. Its distribution is limited to the central Peruvian jungle, found at altitudes between 376 and 1,500 meters, making it an endemic species of significant value to national biodiversity.

The Ministry of Environment stated that this discovery underscores the importance of the Oxapampa forests and the central jungle as repositories of unidentified species. The presence of Neea myrciifolia within protected areas highlights their crucial role in conserving biodiversity that has yet to be fully revealed, reinforcing the need to maintain these ecosystems.

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The presence of Neea myrciifolia in areas of natural protected areas demonstrates the value of these territories for conserving biodiversity that still has much to reveal and reinforces the need to keep protected ecosystems where, even after decades of research, new species for the world continue to appear.