species 'Uniala multibracteata' in
Western Ghats after 140 years
After a gap of 140 years,
researchers have re-discovered a
rare and endangered tree species,
Uniala multibracteata (locally
known as Kattupuvamkurunnila)
from a non-protected area of the
Vagamon Hills in the Western
Ghats.
This species was originally
discovered by R.H. at Peermade in
1880. Beddome, a pioneering
botanist who discovered plants in
South India.
Jomi Augustine, a former Botany
professor at Pala St. Thomas
College who led this research, says
that after Beddom no one could
collect this rare plant. It remained
unknown for the last 140 years and
scientists declared it critically
endangered or possibly extinct.
The genus Uniala is named after
the famous plant taxonomist B.P. It
is named in recognition of Uniyal's
contribution. There are 11 species
in this genus, most of which are
found in South India.
Kattupuvamkurunnila is a small
tree or large shrub 2 to 5 meters
high. Its leaves are covered with
cottony hairs. Its flowers are very
beautiful and [the tree] flowers
from October to January. Its
habitat consists of evergreen
forests and rocky grasslands up to
1,200 m above sea level.
The rediscovery of
Kattupuvamkurunnila has been
published in the recent issue of the
Wildlife Information Liaison
Development Society magazine
Journal of Threatened Taxa.
