Thiruvananthapuram,
The Hindu, July 17, 2015
A team of researchers from the State have reported the
discovery of two new plant species from the Pooyamkutty-Adamalayar and
Neriamangalam forest regions, highlighting the rich biodiversity of the
Western Ghats and the need for a conservation strategy for the fragile
ecosystem.
The team led by C.N. Sunil, Associate
Professor, SNM College, Maliankara, chanced upon the new species during
investigations conducted as part of a UGC-sponsored project on the
flowering plants of Ernakulam district. The findings were published in
the June 2015 issue of the international journal Webbia: Journal of
Plant Taxonomy and Phytogeography.
An under shrub plant belonging to the mint family,
Anisochilus shoolamudianus
was found growing on steep wet rocks on Shoolamudy, the highest peak in
Ernakulam district, deep inside the Edmalayalar forest range. The
species was named after the place of collection. The investigators gave
it a vernacular name “Vellithumpa” (silver flower) because of the white
silvery hairs under the leaf. The plant bears small white flowers with
red anthers in cylindrical closely packed clusters. According to M.G.
Sanilkumar, Assistant Professor, SNM College, who was also part of the
team, only four or five plants were observed in the area, possibly an
indication that it is a very rare species.
A herbaceous plant belonging to the pipeworts family,
Eriocaulon manoharanii
was found growing in the wet rocky mountain grasslands of
Mamalakandam-Munippara area in the Neriamangalam forest range. The plant
has small white flowers growing in clusters. The patchy distribution of
the plant is a scenic beauty in the valleys and grasslands. Dr. Sunil
said the species was named after former Principal Chief Conservator of
Forests T.M. Manoharan as a recognition of his contributions to
biodiversity conservation and wildlife protection.
Dr.
Sunil and his team had discovered four other plant species from the
area over the last two years. “This points to the unmapped biodiversity
in the region. It also indicates the need for a conservation strategy
for the ecologically sensitive areas of the Western Ghats,” he says.
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