A recent floristic exploration has documented 270 species of rare, endemic, and threatened (RET) tree species on southern Western Ghats spread over Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The 22-day survey, which concluded recently, was organised by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) as part of a three-year research to document economically important endemic trees in the country.
“We could collect flowers and fruits of 270 of the 290 RET plants reported from the region,” BSI scientist K.A. Sujana, who led the three-member team, told The Hindu . She said 177 plants among them were collected from biodiversity hotspots in Wayanad district.
As many as 114 species were found to be ethno medicinal, 40 were edible, and 84 were found to have high timber value. A few of the plants were found as resin, gum, and oil yielding.
The tribespeople living in and around forests collect mace of wild nutmeg ( Myristica malabarica ), flowering buds of wild cinnamon ( Cinnamomum malabatrum ), and bark of Symplocos macrophylla . Many of the RET plants are restricted to certain pockets in the ghats with one or two individuals, she said.
“It is high time the protection and propagation of many of these plants were ensured, otherwise they will fade into oblivion,” Dr. Sujana said. She added that the issue was serious as detailed studies on the uses, chemical constitution, and economic value of many plants were yet to be conducted.
Waste collection bins installed by the Forest Department at the Nilambur division would be taken as a paradigm in waste management in forest areas of the two States. The public should be more cautious on conserving the important plant species otherwise they will be lost in the near future, she said.
A.B.D. Selvam, scientist, and A. Saravanan, BSI botanist, were the other team members.
The team also visited Nilgiris, the Malabar coast, Periyar national park, Sholayar-Valparai region, Anamalai, and Travancore as a part of the project.
