(THE GIST OF PIB) Gongronema sasidharanii

(THE GIST OF PIB) Gongronema sasidharanii

(AUGUST-2024)

Gongronema sasidharanii

Gongronema sasidharanii, a new species of plant, was recently discovered from Pampadum Shola National Park in Kerala.

About Gongronema sasidharanii:

  • It is a new species of plant discovered in Pampadum Shola National Park, Idukki District, Kerala.
  • It is a plant with smooth stems and small urn-shaped creamy white to purplish-green flowers.
  • This is also the first time the genusGongronema is being reported from south India.
  • In India, the genus Gongronema has so far been represented by just three species found in northeast India, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and West Bengal.

Key Facts about Pampadum Shola National Park:

  • It is located in the eastern part of the Southern Western Ghats in Idukki District, Kerala.
  • Stretching over an area of around 12 sq km, the name 'Pampadum Shola' literally means ‘the forest where the snake dances’.
  • The terrain is undulating with hillocks of varying heights. The altitudes range between 1600-2400 m. 
  • The park experiences a misty and cloudy climate throughout the year, and it receives heavy rain during the North-East monsoon.
  • Vegetation: It houses evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, shola grasslands, and semi-evergreen. 
  • Flora: It is host to 22 species of trees, 74 species of herbs and shrubs, and 16 species of climbers.

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Courtesy: PIB