Researchers in Tanzania have unveiled a previously unknown species of gigantic tree, Tessmannia princeps, towering over the tropical rainforests of the Udzungwa Mountains. The discovery adds to the genus Tessmannia and provides insights into the diversity of East African flora, according to a report by The Debrief.
Standing approximately 35 to 40 meters (115 to 131 feet) tall, Tessmannia princeps is distinguished by its impressive height and massive, buttressed trunk measuring up to 2.7 meters (8.9 feet) in diameter. The tree's enormous circumference sets it apart among species in the region. "The height and width of Tessmannia princeps are impressive," reported IFLScience.
During field surveys, a team of botanists from the Museo delle Scienze and the National Museum of Kenya discovered the new species in the Fabaceae family. The researchers found around 100 mature individuals of Tessmannia princeps across two populations.
Some of the newly discovered trees could be up to 3,000 years old. When the team investigated a fallen individual, they counted 12 to 15 rings in just a single centimeter of wood from its core, suggesting that Tessmannia princeps grows in width very slowly. Study author Andrea Bianchi told Mongabay that this would "put the age of the bigger trees around 2,000–3,000 years."
The slow growth and low population of Tessmannia princeps make it especially vulnerable. The species is characterized by extremely slow growth, taking up to 15 years to increase by one centimeter in circumference. This makes the species particularly susceptible to external impacts, given its restricted habitat and the limited number of mature individuals known to exist.
The Udzungwa Mountains, part of the Eastern Arc Mountains range in Tanzania, harbor numerous nature reserves and are a focal point of biodiversity. Researchers note that there are many extremely rare species of plants and animals found only in the Udzungwa Mountains and the Mngeta Valley of Udzungwa.
The research team suggests that Tessmannia princeps should be classified as vulnerable under the IUCN Red List. The species is currently only provisionally assessed as vulnerable under IUCN Red List criteria.
The name Tessmannia princeps, with "princeps" meaning "the most outstanding" in Latin, was chosen because of the impressive size of the tree. Tessmannia princeps is distinguishable by its morphological characteristics, possessing a large number of leaflets, comprising up to 48 per leaf. The high leaflet count is one of the significant features that helped it become recognized as a distinct species.
During their hike in 2019 near the village of Uluti and the Boma la Mzinga forest reserves, the team encountered a large tree that none of them could recognize. The tree had fallen due to natural causes, allowing researchers to collect wood samples for analysis. After conducting analyses, the team confirmed that the tree belonged to a species previously unknown to the scientific community.
The research was published in the scientific journal Phytotaxa in a study titled "Tessmannia princeps (Fabaceae), a new rainforest tree from the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania," which can be read online.
The Udzungwa Corridor is a forest restoration project that currently offers protection for the biodiversity of the region and aims to reconnect patches of ancient rainforest. The region where Tessmannia princeps was discovered is part of this project. "This is good news for Tessmannia princeps," stated Levante, because its slow growth and low numbers mean it could disappear if disturbed by human activities.
However, protecting such species requires strict control over human activity in the region. Being a national park means that the trees cannot be felled or damaged. The authors of the new study emphasize the importance of further research and conservation measures.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.