Context: The new species, named Portulaca laljii, was recently discovered from Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh.
Key Features of Portulaca laljii

• It has unique features such as a tuberous root, no hair in its leaf axils, a reddish pink flower, prolate-shaped fruits, and copper brown seeds without lustre.
• The plants belonging genus Portulaca. They are classified in the category Sun Rose because they flower in bright sunshine.
• The plant grows in rocky crevices at an altitude of about 1,800 metres above mean sea level, very close to the ground, at about less than 10 cm.
• It only grows naturally in rocky crevices whereas, other plants belonging to the genus portulaca are widely distributed in both forests and agricultural fields.
• The flowers bloom for months from June to February.
• It has been named to honour the contribution of Lal Ji Singh, an eminent botanist of the Botanical Survey of India associated with the Andaman and Nicobar Centre of the Botanical Survey of India.
• IUCN: Data Deficient