Reassessing endemism: Distribution of Microstegium falconeri (Poaceae: Andropogoneae) beyond its known habitats

Biodiversity hotspots are invariably rich in endemic flora and fauna. The Himalayan region, in particular, has long attracted botanists and field taxonomists due to its remarkable floristic diversity. However, recurring questions arise - are endemic species truly restricted in their distribution? Insufficient studies in classical systematic taxonomy, along with limited field exploration in biodiversity-rich regions, often lead to misconceptions about endemism. Such a situation was observed in the case of Microstegium falconeri (Hook.f.) Clayton conducted extensive surveys between 2000 and 2024 across different parts of the Himalaya. This study documented the extended distribution of M. falconeri, a species previously considered endemic to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The species has now been reported from other Indian regions, including Jammu & Kashmir and neighbouring countries such as China and Nepal, with an earlier record from Bhutan. The paper provides a comprehensive taxonomic account of the species, including detailed descriptions, illustrations, colour photographs from natural habitats, geo-coordinates of collection sites and notes on flowering and fruiting periods. Notably, this work also reports the recollection of M. falconeri from Himachal Pradesh after more than a century. Furthermore, it highlights the species’ habitat preferences, distribution patterns and conservation status while assessing potential threats to its survival across varied ecosystems. Such a study underscores the importance of continued field-based taxonomic exploration and cautions against the uncritical use of the term “endemic”. True endemism must be reassessed through extensive fieldwork and modern analytical approaches, as existing literature may not always present the complete picture of a species’ rarity or distribution.