Field specimens were collected in 2019 from Forécariah and Kindia, with surveys mapping local populations and underscoring the plant’s restricted, cliff-side habitat.

Researchers consider horizontal gene transfer as a possible explanation for the unusual hair morphology, suggesting potential gene movement between species and noting supporting plant examples in other lineages.

A new species, Virectaria stellata, was identified from sandstone sites in Guinea, characterized by star-shaped hairs on stems, leaves, and flowers that distinguish it from its family.

Microscopic analysis reveals stellate hairs across multiple plant organs, raising questions about how this trait developed given Rubiaceae’s typical absence of such hairs.

The project is led by Faya Julien Simbiano of Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry, with collaboration from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the findings are published in Webbia.

Researchers call for comprehensive genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analyses to position Virectaria stellata among close relatives and to test the horizontal transfer hypothesis, while actively ruling out contamination and convergent evolution.

Conservation context emphasizes a restricted geographic range of about 47 square miles, with potential threats from mining activity and climate stress, alongside planned ongoing monitoring.

The hair branching pattern likely involves multiple genes, indicating a complex genetic basis rather than a single mutation; further data are needed to distinguish horizontal transfer from convergent evolution.

Possible gene-transfer pathways discussed include parasitic connections, exchange of organelle DNA, and nuclear gene changes, though each route requires more evidence in this case.