Trees of the Trans-Himalaya: first report of Pinus wallichiana A. B. Jackson from Ladakh

Documenting distribution records of biodiversity at regional scale plays a pivotal role in bridging the Wallacean shortfall in global knowledge on biodiversity. Here, we reported the first distribution record of a tree species, Pinus wallichiana A. B. Jackson to the flora of Ladakh – a remote region in Indian Trans-Himalaya. The tree species grows wild in the interior mountain valley of Kaksar in district Kargil of the region. Taxonomic description and photographic illustrations of the species are provided here to facilitate easy identification. We also highlighted the scientific significance of this new tree species record in better understanding of biogeography, paleoecology and paleo-climate of this remote Trans-Himalayan region in India.