New distribution record and DNA barcoding of Sapria himalayana Griff. (Rafflesiaceae), a rare and endangered holoparasitic plant from Mizoram, India

Sapria himalayana Griff. is a rare and endangered holoparasitic plant that prefers specific host (Tetrastigma sp.). It one of the lesser-known poorly understood plants facing threats extinction owing to human interference in evergreen forests Mizoram. The flower only visible part this endophyte blooms from November December. was encountered for first time forest near Rullam village Serchhip District Mizoram, India. In present study, DNA barcoding used identify plants, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region S. amplified sequenced. ITS2 sequence could accurately up species level species. absence ribulose-biphosphate carboxylase gene (rbcL) genome supports its nature. Hence, can help taxonomic biodiversity research aid selecting taxa various molecular ecology population genetics studies. phylogenetic tree analyzed using maximum-likelihood method, our findings showed different families were clearly discriminated tree. To best knowledge, report