Class : Angiosperms
Division : Monocots
Series : Commelinids
Order : Poales
Family : Eriocaulaceae
Genus : Eriocaulon
Species : Eriocaulon govindiana
Eriocaulon govindiana, a new species of flowering plant (angiosperm) belonging to the Eriocaulaceae family, has been discovered from the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) in the Nilgiri Biosphere. The species has been given the name ‘govindiana’ in honour of P.V. Govindankutty, retired Professor and Principal, Payyanur College, Kannur.
Eriocaulon govindiana grows in medium-altitude marshy areas at altitudes of 800-900 m. Its distribution was restricted to two localities in the sanctuary. Small populations of the species were distributed in marshy patches. The species appears with the onset the south-west monsoon (June-July) and starts flowering by early September.
The flowering peaked in October-November and fruiting in November-January. Many a time the plant grew as undergrowth. Wildfire in the sanctuary posed a serious threat to the plant, so steps should be adopted to ensure the protection of the species in its natural habitat.
This tuberous herbaceous species was discovered by a team of scientists led by M.K. Ratheesh Narayanan, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Payyanur College along with other researchers. The discovery has been published in the recent edition of the Taiwania International Journal of Life Sciences.
Link to full paper: http://tai2.ntu.edu.tw
No comments:
Post a Comment