Rediscovery of Primula cooperi Balf.f. (Primulaceae), a species endemic to Sikkim, Eastern Himalaya

In this study, we report the rediscovery of Primula cooperi Balf.f. whose existence was seen as a mystery until now. It was first collected in the year 1913 from North Sikkim by Roland Edgar Cooper. Since its first discovery, it has not been rediscovered again. It was declared extinct as its type locality had been repeatedly surveyed without success. Based on our recent rediscovery, characteristics of the species is updated supported by photographs and measurements. The latest IUCN Red List categorised its conservation status as Critically Endangered. Lastly, a phylogenetic analysis revealed P. cooperi as a member of P. sect. Proliferae of the sub-genus Aleuritia with P. prenantha being its closest sister taxon. Morphologically, it has close affinities with P. brachystoma and P. polonensis.
, , # Rediscovery of Primula cooperi Balf.f. (Primulaceae), a species endemic to Sikkim, Eastern Himalaya

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.m37pvmdfk](10.5061/dryad.m37pvmdfk)

## Description of the data and file structure

Fresh leaves of the *P.cooperi* leaves were used to extract DNA. After extraction, the DNA was amplified and sequenced using ITS primer. The forward and the reverse readings obtained were manually edited using BioEdit software and a consensus sequence was developed. ITS sequences of the closely related Primula species were downloaded from NCBI. The sequences were assembled, aligned and analyzed to get the phylogeny.

### Files and variables

#### File: IMG_20250418_114713.jpg

**Description:** Herbarium specimen image

#### File: Primula_cooperi_ITS_Sikkim.txt

**Description:** ITS sequence

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