New plant species discovery highlights biodiversity in Uzbekistan
Elymus uzbekistanicus, first Poaceae species found in Uzbekistan in 57 years, showcases regional collaboration and global scientific value
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — A team of scientists from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China has discovered a new plant species in Uzbekistan, marking a major milestone in Central Asian botanical research.
The species, named Elymus uzbekistanicus, is the first new member of the Poaceae (cereal) family found in Uzbekistan in nearly six decades.
According to local media, the discovery has been hailed as a “historic event” by regional experts and has garnered international recognition for its scientific significance. The research was recently published in PhytoKeys, one of the world’s leading peer-reviewed journals in plant taxonomy and biodiversity.
The new species was identified using a combination of traditional morphological studies and advanced DNA sequencing techniques, including chloroplast and nuclear DNA analysis. These methods enabled the team to verify Elymus uzbekistanicus as a distinct species within the Elymus genus.
“This discovery once again confirms how rich and underexplored Uzbekistan’s biological diversity truly is,” said representatives from the Academy of Sciences. The specimen used to classify the plant was preserved in the National Herbarium Fund of Uzbekistan, which researchers credited as a vital scientific resource in the success of the study.
Detailed information about the plant’s identification key, high-resolution imagery, geographic distribution, and environmental characteristics were presented to the international scientific community as part of the publication.
The breakthrough also underscores the value of cross-border cooperation in advancing scientific knowledge. The collaborative work between Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Chinese botanists is being lauded as a model for future biodiversity research in Central Asia.
Global botanists have praised the discovery, calling it an “invaluable contribution” not only to Uzbekistan’s national herbarium but also to global plant science.
Researchers believe further study of Elymus uzbekistanicus could have broader ecological implications, particularly in understanding and preserving biodiversity under changing environmental conditions.
This discovery serves as both a scientific achievement and a reminder of the unexplored potential within Central Asia’s ecosystems—an inspiration for future research into the region’s botanical wealth.
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