Scientists have found a new plant species from a laterite hillock at Kanai Kanam near Payyannur in Kannur district. The species belongs to the genus Eriocaulon, which has close to 400 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions across the world. This species was christened ‘Eriocaulon kannurense’.
The plant was collected a few months ago during a floristic exploration on the laterite eco system organised by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation here. The team was led by C.N. Sunil, Associate Professor, SNM College, Maliankara and M.K. Ratheesh Narayanan, Assistant Professor, Payyanur College. “The plant is a submerged aquatic herb with white flower head, anther, and isodiametric cells of seed coat without appendages,” Dr. Sunil says.
Eriocaulon capillus-naiadis, Eriocaulon melanocephalumand Eriocaulon setaceum are the only three submerged aquatic species in the world. The present one is an addition to this section, he adds. The team comprised M.K. Nandakumar and Jayesh P. Joseph of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and K.A. Sujana, scientist, Botanical Survey of India. The findings have been accepted for publication in the September issue of Taiwania, an international journal on plant science published from Taiwan, Dr. Ratheesh says.
The ‘Eriocaulon kannurense’ species grows in large colonies at an altitude of 200 msl, in perennial streams of laterite hillocks. But, the biodiverse laterite hillocks in this area face a high degree of habitat degradation since the public is unaware of the significance of its biodiversity, he says. “The area is being converted into building sites, mining grounds, and dumping sites. Tourism activities are also posing threats to the fragile eco system,” he added.
