Muscat – Researchers at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) have identified a previously unknown plant species native to Oman, adding a new entry to the global catalogue of flora and highlighting the sultanate’s rich biodiversity.

The newly identified species – Adenosiadum omaniense – was discovered by the university’s Life Sciences Unit at the College of Science. It has been named after Oman, reflecting the country where it was first recorded.

The plant is found on limestone plateaus along Oman’s coastline, particularly in the eastern Hajar Mountains.

Belonging to the Apiaceae family, the species is closely related to Adenosiadum arabicum, which grows in southern Oman and parts of Yemen. Researchers said the new species has evolved distinct characteristics as a result of differences in climate and terrain.

Among its distinguishing features are velvety leaves, kidney-shaped leaflets with serrated edges, a larger number of flowers, and seeds that differ in both shape and size from those of its closest known relative.

The discovery has been formally recognised through publication in the Edinburgh Journal of Botany, a peer-reviewed scientific journal specialising in plant taxonomy.

A reference specimen has also been deposited in the Sultan Qaboos University Herbarium, providing internationally recognised scientific record for the species.

Researchers said no local name has yet been identified for the plant, and its ecological, medicinal or economic values remain unknown. Further studies are planned to examine its chemical composition, assess any potential medicinal applications and better understand its ecological role.

The Arabian peninsula is recognised as one of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots, with southern parts of Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen supporting a wide variety of unique plant species. The region’s diverse landscapes and climatic conditions continue to attract botanists and taxonomists.

According to SQU, around 1,300 plant species had been recorded in Oman by 2020. Continued botanical research has since identified additional species previously undocumented in the sultanate, including several new to science, raising the total number of recorded plant species in Oman to 1,440 over the past five years.