MUSCAT : The discovery was made by the Life Sciences Unit at the College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University. The newly identified plant has been named Adenosiadim omanensis, in reference to Oman, where it was first recorded in the world.
The plant is found on limestone plateaus along coastal areas, particularly in the eastern regions of the Hajar Mountains in northern Oman.
According to researchers, the new species belongs to the Apiaceae family. It shares some characteristics with Adenosiadim arabicum, a plant found in southern Oman and extending into Yemen. However, the newly discovered species differs in several visible features, which are believed to have developed due to variations in climate, terrain and environmental conditions.
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Among its key characteristics are velvety leaves, kidney-shaped leaflets with serrated edges, a larger number of flowers, and distinct differences in the shape and size of its seeds.
The discovery has received international recognition after the plant was published and described in the Edinburgh Journal of Botany, one of the world’s leading peer-reviewed scientific journals in plant classification. A specimen of the plant has also been preserved in the herbarium of Sultan Qaboos University, serving as the internationally recognised scientific record of the species.
No local name has yet been identified for the plant, and there is currently no information available on its uses. Researchers say further studies are needed to understand its chemical properties, possible medical applications and environmental importance.
The Arabian Peninsula is recognised as one of the world’s important centres of biodiversity, particularly in the southern region covering Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Its varied landscapes and ecosystems have long attracted botanists studying the region’s rich plant life.
In 2020, the number of recorded plant species in Oman was estimated at around 1,300. However, continued research in plant classification has led to the identification of more Omani plant species and the discovery of new species not previously known globally. Over the past five years, the total number of recorded plants in Oman has increased to 1,440.
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