Scientists from the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute have identified a new evergreen tree species, named Humboldtia nairiana, in the riverside (riparian) forests of Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala's Western Ghats. The tree belongs to Humboldtia, a genus of legumes. The discovery adds to the list of endemic plants recorded from the Western Ghats and underlines the importance of protecting riparian forest habitats.