Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2021 | 13(2): 17780–17806

 

 

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) 

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3883.13.2.17780-17806

#3883 | Received 03 May 2020 | Final received 30 December 2020 | Finally accepted 09 February 2021

 

 

Observations on the flowering plant diversity of Madayippara, a southern Indian lateritic plateau from Kerala, India

 

C. Pramod 1 & A.K. Pradeep 2

 

1 Department of Botany, Government Brennen College, Dharmadam P.O., Kannur, Kerala 670106, India.

2 Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Calicut University P.O., Malappuram, Kerala, 673635, India.

1 cpramod4@gmail.com (corresponding author), 2 akpradeep1@uoc.ac.in

 

 

 

Editor: Mandar Nilkanth Datar, MACS-Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, India. Date of publication: 26 February 2021 (online & print)

 

Citation: Pramod, C. & A.K. Pradeep (2021). Observations on the flowering plant diversity of Madayippara, a southern Indian lateritic plateau from Kerala, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 13(2): 17780–17806. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3883.13.2.17780-17806

 

Copyright: © Pramod & Pradeep 2021. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.  JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.

 

Funding: The present study did not receive any funding from any agency.

 

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

 

Author details: C. Pramod is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany, Government Brennen College, Thalassery. His area of interest is Angiosperm taxonomy and floristics. A.K. Pradeep is working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany, University of Calicut. His area of interest is the taxonomy of flowering plants.

 

Author contribution: CP and AKP designed and conceptualized the study. CP collected specimens and data for analysis, CP and AKP performed analysis of data. CP and AKP prepared the first draft of the manuscript and equally contributed in further editions.

 

Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to the heads of the Department, University of Calicut, Kerala and the Department of Botany, Government Brennen College, Kerala, for the facilities provided for the study.

 

 

Abstract: Northern Kerala of southern India is characterized by widely spread lateritic plateaus which provide an extremely harsh physical environment for life leading to the development of specialized plant communities with a large number of endemic and habitat specific species.  Madayippara, a midland lateritic plateau located in the Kannur District of northern Kerala is an icon of rich floristic diversity and endemism.  The plateau forms a number of microhabitats due to the difference in geographic terrain and soil cover, thus forming a complex of habitats with diverse forms of plants, mainly ephemeral herbs.  Out of the 636 flowering plant taxa recorded from the microhabitats of the plateau, within a limited area of 3.65km2, 160 (c. 25%) are endemics.  Most of the endemic species occur in specialized microhabitats. The plateau is the type locality of 11 taxa.  Lateritic plateaus of southern India, which are associated with characteristic and rich biodiversity, are now under varied types of anthropogenic threats such as large scale mining for bricks and clay, and they need urgent attention for conservation of the biodiversity.

 

Keywords: Biodiversity, conservation, endemism, floristic diversity, microhabitats, plateau.

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

In India, the hard crusts of laterite are mainly found on the western coast, from Dapoli in Ratnagiri in Maharashtra to Malappuram District in Kerala, and also on the Deccan Plateau (Balakrishnan et al. 2011).  Distribution of laterite in Kerala, is mostly confined to an elevation of less than 600m, forming low flat topped ridges and hills, between the foothills of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, mainly from Malappuram to Kasaragod (Varghese & Byju 1993).  In the geographical documentation of the Government of Kerala these landscapes are marked as ‘wastelands’ (Anonymous 2019).  The laterite hills are the most imposing feature of northern Kerala, which are extremely threatened both in terms of topography and biodiversity (Muraleedharan 2011).  These plateaus are characterized by extremely harsh environment such as high temperature and lack of moisture content in the summer, leading to the development of unique vegetation, many of which show special adaptation to the environment.  These severe conditions play a decisive role in the development of seasonal vegetation, where most of the plant species complete their life cycle during the monsoon period.  When compared with granitic inselbergs (granitic rock outcrops), the vegetation and flora of lateritic plateaus has many unique peculiarities.  The present study is an effort to record the floristic diversity and endemism of the Madayippara lateritic hillock in Kannur District of Kerala.

 

Study Area

Madayippara, a good representative of the southern Indian midland lateritic plateaus, is located in Madayi Panchayath, near Payangadi Town in Kannur District of Kerala, southern India.  The plateau covers an area of 3.65km2, between 12.01–12.05 0N and 75.23–75.27 0E, at an altitude of about 50m from the mean sea level (Fig. 1; Image 1–3).  The climatic conditions vary from hot dry to warm humid in different seasons, viz., pre-monsoon (March–May), monsoon (June–November), and post-monsoon (December–February); these together with edaphic factors account for the development of characteristic vegetation, as observed by Muller (2007).

 

Methods

Intensive field visits were carried out at Madayippara lateritic plateau covering all seasons during the period 2008–2017 to document floristic diversity.  Different microhabitats on the plateau such as seasonal pools, soil covered areas, rocky surfaces, and tree associated vegetation along the valleys were surveyed repeatedly at different seasons and specimens were collected for laboratory studies and for the preparation of voucher specimens.  Photographs of plants and habitats were taken using Nikon Coolpix L110 and Olympus C-7070 cameras.  The voucher specimens were prepared following the wet method (Fosberg & Sachet 1965).  The specimens were pressed in blotting paper, dried in a hot air oven, mounted on standard size, hand-made herbarium mount boards using a synthetic gum (Fevicol SH) and labeled and deposited at Calicut University Herbarium (CALI), duplicates of which are deposited at the herbarium of the Government Brennen College, Thalassery, Kerala.  The specimens collected for laboratory studies were worked out using a LEICA M80, ZEISS Stemi DV4 and LABOMED CSM2 microscopes and identified using pertinent floras and relevant revisions and monographs; and by comparison with the specimens available at Calicut University Herbarium (CALI), Madras Herbarium (MH) and with the images in the Kew Herbarium (K) Catalogue (http://apps.kew.org/herbcat/navigator.do).  Some of the specimens were referred to concerned experts in India and abroad for the confirmation of identification.  The literature on phytogeography and endemism were referred to assess the distribution and endemism of each species.  Conservation status of each species was checked with the available assessed data as per the IUCN Red list Categories and Criteria Version 3.1 (IUCN 2012).  Endemism of taxa were recorded based on previous publications such as Sasidharan (2004) and online databases such as World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/home.do).  Botanical names were updated using online databases like The International Plant Names Index (IPNI) (http://ipni.org/ipni/plantnamesearchpage.do) and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/home.do) of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

 

 

Results and Discussion

 

The vegetation of Madayippara lateritic plateau is divided into four broad categories with the characteristic flora associated with each of them (Jacobi et. al. 2007, modified).  The plant species in the microhabitats are adapted to sustain in the adverse environmental conditions, such as seasonal drought, high temperature and nutrient scarcity.  It has been observed that there is an overlap between most of the species in microhabitats with varying degree of dominance, as stated by Watve (2013), however, some species are always restricted to a particular microhabitat.

Bhattarai et al. (2012) in a study on the mesoscale distributions of endemic, rare, or locally important plant species on the plateau habitats and its escarpments, assessed the hydrological and edaphic parameters of seasonal plateau microhabitats on the Kas Plateau in Maharashtra.  They found that almost two-thirds of over hundred phytogeographically important species occur on the plateau top.  Since botanically critical plateau habitats are generally small, dependent on seasonal moisture of monsoon, and determined by drainage-related parameters that are altered by anthropogenic activities, they are highly threatened.  Using the Kas region as a model lateritic system, they assessed its significant flora and habitats at two scales: mesoscale distributions in major ecological zones of the plateau and its subtending slopes, and microscale distributions on the plateau in seasonal habitats defined by hydrogeomorphic parameters such as moisture content, seasonal water retention capacity, profile of the soil, topographic variation, depth and texture of soil, and micro-elevational gradients.  They identified 11 microhabitat types on the plateau top, that support varieties of plant species of phytogeographic significance during the monsoon.  The plateau consists of a mosaic of floristically different habitats determined by hydrogeomorphic factors; for many of these habitats, the occupied area is very small in extent and seasonally ephemeral.

In a similar floristic analysis conducted in 10 threatened high altitude lateritic plateau ecosystems including Kas in the southwestern Maharashtra part of Western Ghats, Lekhak & Yadav (2012) recorded the presence of 361 taxa of herbaceous plants.  Out of the reported 67 endemic species from the study area, 39 are restricted to lateritic plateaus only.  They also identified 11 microhabitat types that support distinct plant communities depending primarily on the availability of soil and moisture.  The plant communities of these habitats are usually edaphically controlled and show adaptation for water accumulation, such as succulence and poikilohydry, carnivory in response to the lack of nutrients in the soil and the presence of underground organs to overcome extreme temperature during summer.

The studies discussed above are from high altitude lateritic plateaus of the northern Western Ghats, and the area surveyed is large compared to the present study, however, climatic and geomorphologic characteristics of the microhabitats are found to be important for the distribution of endemic species in all cases. In a small area, strong endemic component in the flora is associated with seasonal moisture availability.  These endemics occur in a variety of ephemeral microhabitats associated with edaphic features of the plateau (Bhattarai et al. 2012).  In the present study, microhabitats are included in broader categories, as more emphasis is given to the floristic documentation of the entire plateau habitats and its escarpments.  As tree cover and scrub patches on and around the plateau sustain more number of plant species, they support more number of endemic species.

(1) Exposed rock surfaces and crevices (RC): Laterite rock surfaces form one of the most important habitats that support a number of species adapted to this habitat.  The micro environment of the lateritic rock surface and crevices are extremely different from that of the surrounding soil covered areas.  The rock surfaces are characterized by very low moisture content, high thermal variation, very low organic carbon content and less availability of nutrients.  The crevices and fissures on the rocks show the presence of little soil.  A few of the plant species growing on exposed rock surfaces are desiccation tolerant.

(2) Seasonal ponds and small ephemeral pools (SP): During rainy seasons small and shallow ephemeral pools and some large ponds are formed on the plateau.  These support a large number of hydrophytes including endemic species showing various degrees of rarity.  The seasonal pools in the plateau are varying in their area, depth, soil cover and soil texture.  The pools are just depressions on the plateau, either on laterite rock or on soil covered areas.  If it is on rocks, thin layers of soil, rich in organic matter has been noted, which support the vegetation.  The pools get dried up in post-monsoon periods and remain dry till pre-monsoon.  They become water logged with the onset of southwest monsoon and dry up after the retreat of the northeast monsoon.  Water in the seasonal pools is subjected to extreme diurnal changes in temperature due to the high surface to volume ratio (Pramod 2015).  Germination of ephemeral vegetation in the seasonal pools is noticed after the first shower in May end or early June every year.  A series of species are noticed progressively until they become dry in the months of October–November.  This series include species such as Geissaspis cristata, G. tenella, Isachne veldkampii, Murdannia ochracea, M. semiteres, Rotala malabarica, R. malampuzhensis, Schoenoplectiella articulata, S. lateriflora, Blyxa aubertii, B. octandra, Nymphoides krishnakesara, Echinochloa colona, Glyphochloa acuminata, Utricularia cecilii, U. graminifolia, Drosera indica, Fimbristylis tenera, F. aestivalis, F. ferruginea, Eriocaulon cuspidatum, E. reductum, E. eurypeplon, Coelachne madayensis, Neanotis subtilis, Dopatrium junceum, Oryza rufipogon, Rhamphicarpa longiflora, Wiesneria triandra, Hydrilla verticillata, Monochoria vaginalis, and Lindernia hyssopioides.  Almost all species are herbaceous and most of them complete their life cycle in a short period as the pools dry up.

(3) Soil covered areas and grassy plains and slopes (SC): Surrounding the rocky surfaces are the areas with soil cover of varied thickness from less than 1cm  to more 1m, and on the southeastern part of the plateau grassy slopes with thick soil cover occur.  The vegetation of the soil covered areas varies slightly depending on soil thickness.  The areas with low soil thickness, which usually hold higher moisture content in the early monsoon are characterized by ephemeral flush vegetation, that are later replaced by grass and sedge species.

(4) Tree cover and scrub patches (TS): The upper flat terrain of the plateau, which is almost devoid of thick vegetation, is surrounded by tree vegetation of varying characteristics, from scrub jungles to thick semi evergreen forests.  These forest patches are highly diverse with respect to species composition and the presence of endemic and rare elements.  Though the top of the plateau is devoid of continuous tree cover, some isolated tree species are found.  There are small scrub patches with short trees, shrubs and herbs.  Madayikkavu is a sacred grove covering an area of 0.005km2 with vegetation mainly composed of trees, shrubs, and climbers.

A total of 636 taxa of flowering plants, under 110 families, 406 genera, and 631 species were documented from the plateau.  They are listed in the Table 1, with the families arranged according to APG system of classification (APG IV 2016).  The genera and species are arranged in alphabetical order under respective families and genera. The area of the plateau is very small (3.65km2), representing less than 0.01% of Kannur District, but it harbors about 59% of the flora of Kannur District (Ramachandran & Nair 1988).  The immense diversity of flowering plants in Madayippara is due to the occurrence of diverse types of microhabitats and the ecological factors acting on them.  The occurrence of a high percentage of endemic species belonging to diverse families in a small area indicates the complex nature of the habitat.

Eleven new taxa were discovered by different workers from this plateau, since 1990 (Table 2).  They are Rotala malabarica (Pradeep et al., 1990), Nymphoides krishnakesara (Joseph & Sivarajan, 1990), Justicia ekakusuma (Pradeep & Sivarajan 1991), Lepidagathis keralensis (Madhusoodanan & Singh, 1992), Eriocaulon madayiparense (Swapna et al. 2012), Lindernia madayiparensis (Ratheesh Narayanan et al., 2012), Coelachne madayensis (Pramod et al. 2012), Parasopubia hofmannii (Pradeep & Pramod, 2013), Parasopubia hofmannii var. albiflora (Pradeep & Pramod, 2013), Fimbristylis pokkudaniana (Sunil et al., 2016), and Chrysopogon narayaniae (Sunil et al., 2017).  Two recently described species from southern India, viz., Eriocaulon gopalakrishnanum K.Rashmi & G.Krishnak. and Lindernia tamilnadensis M.G.Prasad & Sunojk. also occur in this plateau.  Recently, a number of new species were described from similar lateritic habitats of northern Kerala (Image 4 & 5) and plateaus of the Konkan region (Ansari et al. 1982; Bhat & Nagendran 1983; Nair et al. 1983; Yadav & Janarthanam 1994; Raju 1985; Potdar et al. 2004; Gad & Janarthanam 2007; Raj & Sivadasan 2008; Yadav et al. 2008, 2009, 2010; Malpure & Yadav 2009; Prabhugaonkar et al. 2009; Shimpale & Yadav 2010; Nandikar & Gurav 2011; Kambale et al. 2012; Potdar & Yadav 2012; Prasad & Raveendran 2013a&b; Prasad et al. 2012; Shahina & Nampy 2014; Gaikwad et al. 2014; Biju et al. 2016a,b,c; Darshetkar et al. 2017; Bokil et al. 2020).  Most of the species described from such habitats belong to diverse families.  This shows that complex and diverse microhabitats of the plateaus support rich and varied flora.

The substrata of the plateau are highly variable ranging from the deep soil profile of grasslands in the valleys to the ultra-thin film of humus on the exposed rock surfaces.  In rock surfaces, the vegetation is very distinct with the predominance of drought tolerant species.  The fine dust and humus accumulated in the vermiform tubes and cavities of the laterite rock provide nutrients to the supporting herbaceous vegetation.  Species such as Lepidagathis keralensis, Euphorbia deccanensis, and Polycarpaea corymbosa occur on open lateritic surfaces mostly rooted in the humus rich crevices of the laterite rocks.  The plateau is subjected to high degree of seasonal variation in the vegetation and flora.  The most important factor that determines the vegetation is the soil moisture content.  In the pre-monsoon period, the open plateau is looking almost barren with few dried grass species of the post-monsoon period.  The germination of the seasonal vegetation starts with the summer shower in May and continues later at the onset of south-west monsoon in June.  The early monsoon is dominated by ephemeral flush vegetation, which is taken over later by grass and sedge species at the end and continued in the post monsoon period.  The monsoon months (June–November) shows the peak of flowering of species, due to the appearance of ephemeral species, grasses and sedges in the open plateau, as shown in Figure 1.  In the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon months, flowering is dominated by woody species in the scrub patches and tree cover.

 

Rarity and endemism

Western Ghats harbours around 1,600 endemic plant species (Nayar 1996), which are documented by many workers, but the diversity and endemism of midland lateritic hillocks and wetlands are seldom documented.  Out of the 636 taxa recorded from Madayippara, 160 (c. 25%) are endemics (Table 1).  Since the maximum number of plant species were recorded in the tree cover and scrub patches, they hold highest number of endemic species also.  Many of the endemic species occur in specialized microhabitats.  For example, species such as Lepidagathis keralensis is restricted to hard lateritic rocks with extreme xeric environment; Coelachne madayensis occur in seasonal pools in well exposed sunny locations with submerged foliage and emergent panicles; Euphorbia deccanensis grows with its roots firmly attached to the humus-rich small cavities and fissures of laterite rocks and species of Utricularia in seasonal pools or shallow soil areas with high moisture content.  The high diversity and endemism of the plateaus is attributted to be a general phenomenon and is explained in different plateaus in the Western Ghats region by various authors (Joshi & Janarthanam 2004; Porembski & Watve 2005; Bhattarai et al. 2012; Lekhak & Yadav 2012).  Of the 10 taxa described from the study area by different authors, five species, viz., Rotala malabarica, Justicia ekakusuma, Fimbristylis pokkudaniana, Coelachne madayensis, and Chrysopogon narayaniae are endemic to this plateau.

The microhabitats, viz., soil covered areas and grassy plains and slopes (SC) and tree cover and scrub patches (TS) hold largest numbers of species and endemics, since they occupy bulk of the total habitat with favorable environmental conditions.  Though the number of species including endemics are comparatively less in the other two microhabitats, viz., exposed rock surfaces and crevices (RC) and seasonal ponds and small ephemeral pools (SP), their percentage of endemics is very high (Table 3).

Out of the available 120 species, as per IUCN ver. 3 (IUCN 2012), a total of 14 species falls under different IUCN threat categories.  Seven species, viz., Dimeria hohenackeri, Limnopoa meeboldii, Syzygium caryophyllatum, Hopea ponga, Lindernia manilaliana, Utricularia cecilii, and Nymphoides krishnakesara are endangered.  The species Eriocaulon kolhapurense, Pterocarpus marsupium, Santalum album, and Ixora malabarica are Vulnerable.  The species Isachne veldkampii and Rotala malabarica are Critically Endangered and the species Nothopegia heyneana is Near Threatened.  Most of the endemic species occurring on the plateau are not yet assessed for the conservation status, many of which are narrow endemics.

 

Threats and Conservation

The highly specialized habitats and rare biodiversity of the coastal lateritic plateaus and hills, parallel to the Western Ghats, have been neglected by scientists and policymakers, until recently.  The laterite biodiversity is an unexplored treasure that is being endangered due to a multitude of anthropogenic activities.  The lateritic plateus of northern Kerala, together with their rich flora and microhabitats are subjected to varied types of pressures such as large scale clay and brick mining, construction works, land filling, seasonal fire, tourism, waste dumping, together with biotic pressures such as invasion of exotic weeds and grazing.  As pointed out by Muraleedharan (2011), degradation of lateritic plateaus results in the simultaneous destruction of atleast three ecosystems: lateritic plateaus, valleys and wetlands, which may eventually adversely affect ground water availability.

The discovery of many plant species and high degree of endemism made Madayippara lateritic plateau a ‘micro hot spot’ for conservation.  The conservation efforts in the southern Western Ghats region are mostly restricted to the forested areas, totally neglecting the biodiversity rich lateritic plateaus.  The rich biodiversity together with the threats associated with the area (Image 5) demands the need for conserving the area on a war footing.  Priority of conservation should be given to endemic species which are short-lived and habitat specific; otherwise, they will be lost forever.  The high conservation value of lateritic plateus of southwestern India has been already recognized (Watve & Thakur 2006; Lekhak & Yadav 2012; Bhattarai et al. 2012; Watve 2013).  The open areas with herbaceous vegetation and grasses are of importance to bird populations including a large number of rare and migratory species, as they provide better visibility for being vigilant to predators and free movement for food gathering (Desai & Shanbhag 2012).  Few afforestation efforts, that are in progress in the plateau are to be discouraged, as the tree species might affect the native herbaceous species because of their dense canopy and allelopathic effect.

The present study recommends conservation of this plateau and similar habitats of northern Kerala, in a similar way as proposed by Chandran et al. (2012), to declare Bhatkal and Mugali laterite plateaus of Uttara Kannada of Karnataka State under ‘Conservation Reserves’.  The Government should formulate strict rules for the restriction of mining and construction activities in the laterite areas.  There is a need to create greater awareness of the importance of laterite hills and their biodiversity among the local community, tourists and policy and decision makers.  Extensive floristic studies in similar habitats of northern Kerala are very likely to yield many more new and interesting species.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Lateritic plateaus are unique due to the nature of substratum and the extreme environmental conditions. Various microhabitats support a rich floral diversity with a large number of rare and endemic species. Though Madayippara represents an area of less than 0.01% of the total area documented in the Flora of Cannanore District, it harbors about 59% represented in the district flora.  The species richness of this area is contributed by the presence of many specialized microhabitats and associated flora.  Various microclimatic conditions play a collective role in the development of a particular plant community in a microhabitat.  Madayippara lateritic plateau, which is the type locality of 10 taxa, and home for many endemic and threatened species, is highly threatened and urgent measures are to be taken for its conservation.  Any slight disturbance in the micro ecosystems can easily take away a number of short-lived herbaceous species which cannot be easily conserved outside its natural habitat.  For the conservation of the rich diversity and microhabitats of the plateau, in situ conservation of the entire habitat is the only answer as ex situ conservation measures cannot provide complex microclimatic requirements artificially.

 

 

Table 1. A list of flowering plant taxa recorded from the Madayippara Lateritic Plateau.

Family

Taxa

Microhabitat

Flowering

Endemism

IUCN RL Status

PIPERACEAE

Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth

TS

Sep–Dec

 

 

 

Piper argyrophyllum Miq.

TS

Jul–Feb

WG & SL

 

 

P. longum L.

TS

Aug–Jan

 

 

ARISTOLOCHIACEAE

Aristolochia indica L.

TS

Jul–Mar

 

 

MAGNOLIACEAE

Magnolia champaca (L.) Baill. ex Pierre

TS

Mar–Jul

 

 

ANNONACEAE

Miliusa tomentosa (Roxb.) Finet & Gagnep.

TS

Oct–May

 

 

 

Polyalthia korinti (Dunal) Thwaites

TS

Apr–Jun

SI & SL

 

 

Uvaria narum (Dunal) Blume

TS

Nov–Jun

SI & SL

 

LAURACEAE

Alseodaphne semecarpifolia Nees var. semecarpifolia

TS

Feb–Apr

PI & SL

 

 

Cinnamomum verum J.Presl

TS

Mar–Apr

SWI & SL

 

 

Litsea deccanensis Gamble

TS

Nov–Dec

SI & SL

 

 

L. glutinosa (Lour.) C.B.Rob.

TS

Apr–May

 

 

ARACEAE

Amorphophallus hohenackeri (Schott) Engl. & Gehrm.

TS

Jun–Aug

WG

 

 

A. paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson

TS

May–Jun

 

LC

 

Ariopsis peltata Nimmo

TS

Jun–Aug

 

 

 

Arisaema neglectum Schott

TS

Apr–Jul

WG

 

 

Caladium bicolor (Aiton) Vent.

SC

Dec–Jan

 

 

 

Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott

SC

May–Oct

 

LC

 

Cryptocoryne spiralis (Retz.) Fisch. ex Wydler

SC

Oct–Apr

I

 

 

Pistia stratiotes L.

SP

Oct–Mar

 

LC

 

Pothos scandens L.

TS

Oct–Nov

 

 

 

Rhaphidophora pertusa (Roxb.) Schott

TS

Aug–Sep

I & SL

 

 

Theriophonum infaustum N.E.Br.

TS

Jul–Sep

SWG

 

ALISMATACEAE

Wiesneria triandra (Dalzell) Micheli

SP

Aug–Nov

PI

LC

HYDROCHARITACEAE

Blyxa aubertii Rich.

SP

Jun–Sep

 

LC

 

B. octandra (Roxb.) Planch. ex Thwaites

SP

Jun–Oct

 

LC

 

Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle

SP

Jan–Dec

 

LC

BURMANNIACEAE

Burmannia coelestis D.Don

SC

Oct–Dec

 

LC

DIOSCOREACEAE

Dioscorea bulbifera L.

TS

Sep–Oct

 

 

 

D. pentaphylla L.

TS

Sep–Dec

 

 

 

D. wallichii Hook.f.

TS

Oct–Nov

 

LC

PANDANACEAE

Pandanus odorifer (Forssk.) Kuntze

TS

Jul–Nov

 

LC

COLCHICACEAE

Iphigenia indica (L.) A.Gray ex Kunth

TS

Jul–Sep

 

 

SMILACACEAE

Smilax zeylanica L.

TS

Jul–Jan

 

 

ORCHIDACEAE

Acampe praemorsa (Roxb.) Blatt. & McCann

TS

Mar–Apr

 

 

 

Bulbophyllum rosemarianum C.S.Kumar, P.C.S.Kumar & Saleem

TS

Jan–Mar

SWG

 

 

Crepidium resupinatum (G.Forst.) Szlach.

TS

Jul–Sep

 

 

 

Habenaria diphylla (Nimmo) Dalzell

SC

Sep–Nov

 

 

HYPOXIDACEAE

Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.

SC

Jun–Dec

 

 

AMARYLLIDACEAE

Crinum viviparum (Lam.) R.Ansari & V.J.Nair

SC

Jan–Dec

I & SL

LC

 

Hymenocallis littoralis (Jacq.) Salisb.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Pancratium triflorum Roxb.

SC

Mar–May

I & SL

 

ASPARAGACEAE

Chlorophytum nimmonii (Graham) Dalzell

TS

Aug–Nov

 

 

 

Borassus flabellifer L.

TS

Mar–Sep

 

 

 

Calamus metzianus Schltdl.

TS

Nov–Jun

WG

 

 

Caryota urens L.

TS

Jan–Apr

 

LC

COMMELINACEAE

Commelina diffusa Burm.f.

SC

Jul–Sep

 

LC

 

C. kurzii C.B.Clarke

TS

Jul–Oct

 

 

 

Cyanotis axillaris (L.) D.Don ex Sweet

SC

Aug–Dec

 

LC

 

C. burmanniana Wight

RC

Aug–Dec

WG

LC

 

C. cristata (L.) D.Don

SC

Jul–Oct

 

LC

 

Murdannia dimorpha (Dalzell) G.Brückn.

SC

Jul–Sep

PI & SL

 

 

M. ochracea (Dalzell) G.Brückn.

SP

Aug–Sep

PI

 

 

M. semiteres (Dalzell) Sant.

SC/RC

Aug–Dec

PI

LC

 

M. spirata (L.) G.Brückn.

SC

Aug–Nov

 

LC

PONTEDERIACEAE

Monochoria vaginalis (Burm.f.) C.Presl

SP

Jul–Nov

 

LC

COSTACEAE

Hellenia speciosa (J.Koenig) S.R.Dutta

TS

Jul–Oct

 

 

ZINGIBERACEAE

Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.

TS/SC

Apr–May

 

 

 

C. cannanorensis R.Ansari, V.J.Nair & N.C.Nair

TS

May–Jun

SWG

 

 

C. longa L.

TS

Sep–Oct

 

 

 

C. zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe

TS

Apr–May

I

 

 

Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm.

TS

Jul–Nov

 

 

XYRIDACEAE

Xyris pauciflora Willd.

SC

Aug–Oct

 

LC

ERIOCAULACEAE

Eriocaulon cuspidatum Dalzell

SP

Aug–Jan

WG

LC

 

E. eurypeplon Körn.

SP

Jul–Dec

PI

LC

 

E. gopalakrishnanum K.Rashmi & G. Krishnak.

SC

Aug–Dec

SI (K)

 

 

E. kolhapurense S.P. Gaikwad, Sardesai & S.R. Yadav

SC

Aug–Nov

WG

VU

 

E. reductum Ruhland

SP

Sep–Mar

WG

 

 

E. xeranthemum Mart.

SC

Jul–Sep

 

LC

CYPERACEAE

Bulbostylis densa (Wall.) Hand.-Mazz.

SC

Sep–Nov

 

LC

 

Cyperus amabilis Vahl

SC

Aug–Dec

 

LC

 

C. compressus L.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

LC

 

C. cyperinus (Retz.) Suringar

SC

Jun–Aug

 

 

 

C. difformis L.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

LC

 

C. iria L.

SC

Nov–Dec

 

LC

 

C. javanicus Houtt.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

C. rotundus subsp. retzii (Nees) Kuk.

SC

Jun–Dec

 

LC

 

C. rotundus L. subsp. rotundus

SC

Jun–Dec

 

LC

 

C. surinamensis Rottb.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

Eleocharis atropurpurea (Retz.) J.Presl & C.Presl

SC

Nov–Dec

 

LC

 

E. dulcis (Burm.f.) Trin. ex Hensch.

SP

Sep–Dec

 

 

 

Fimbristylis aestivalis (Retz.) Vahl

SC

Jan–Apr

 

 

 

F. argentea (Rottb.) Vahl

SC

Jun–Dec

 

LC

 

F. dichotoma subsp. podocarpa (Nees & Meyen) T.Koyama

SC

Mar–Dec

 

LC

 

F. dipsacea (Rottb.) C.B.Clarke

SC

Jan–May

 

LC

 

F. ferruginea (L.) Vahl

SC

Aug–Dec

 

LC

 

F. ovata (Burn.f.) J.Kern

SC

Aug–Mar

 

LC

 

F. pokkudaniana Sunil, Ratheesh & Sivad.

SP

Aug–Sep

SWG (K)

 

 

F. quinquangularis (Vahl) Kunth

SP

Oct–Nov

 

LC

 

F. schoenoides (Retz.) Vahl

SC

Sep–Dec

 

LC

 

F. tenera  Roem. & Schult.var. tenera

SC

Jul–Jan

 

 

 

Fuirena ciliaris (L.) Roxb.

SC

Oct–Mar

 

LC

 

Kyllinga brevifolia  Rottb. var.  brevifolia

SC

Jul–Nov

 

LC

 

K. brevifolia var. stellulata (Valck.Sur.) S.S.Hooper

SC

Jul–Nov

 

LC

 

K. bulbosa P.Beauv.

SC

Jun–Dec

 

LC

 

Lipocarpha squarrosa (L.) Goetgh.

SC

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

Pycreus malabaricus C.B.Clarke

SC

Jul–Dec

PI

 

 

P. polystachyos  (Rottb.) P.Beauv. subsp. polystachyos

SC

Jan–Dec

 

LC

 

P. pumilus (L.) Nees

SC

Jan–Dec

 

LC

 

P. stramineus C.B.Clarke

SC

Aug–Dec

 

LC

 

Rhynchospora wightiana (Nees) Steud.

SC

Aug–Nov

 

 

 

Schoenoplectiella articulata (L.) Lye

SP

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

S. lateriflora (J.F.Gmel.) Lye

SP

Aug–Dec

 

LC

 

Scleria lithosperma (L.) Sw. var. lithosperma

TS

Jan–Dec

 

 

POACEAE

Alloteropsis cimicina (L.) Stapf

SC

Jul–Nov

 

 

 

Apocopis mangalorensis (Hochst. ex Steud.) Henrard

SC

Oct–Feb

PI

 

 

Arundinella cannanorica V.J.Nair, Sreek. & N.C.Nair

RC

Oct–Dec

SWG (K)

 

 

A. ciliata (Roxb.) Nees ex Miq.

SC

Oct–Nov

PI

 

 

A. pumila (Hochst. ex A.Rich.) Steud.

SC/RC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

A. purpurea Hochst. ex Steud.

SC

Aug–Dec

SI

 

 

A. setosa Trin.

SC

May–Dec

 

 

 

Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss

TS

Jul–Feb

I & SL

 

 

Brachiaria ramosa (L.) Stapf

SC

Mar–Sep

 

LC

 

B. subquadripara (Trin.) Hitchc.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

LC

 

Capillipedium assimile (Steud.) A.Camus

SC

Oct–Nov

 

 

 

Chloris barbata Sw.

SC

Mar–Dec

 

 

 

Chrysopogon narayaniae Sunil, Ratheesh & Sivad.

RC

Oct–Dec

SWG (K)

 

 

C. tadulingamii  Sreek., V.J. Nair & N.C.Nair

RC

Oct–Dec

SWG (K)

 

 

Coelachne madayensis Pramod & Pradeep

SP

Jul–Sep

SI (K)

 

 

Coix lacryma-jobi L.

SC

Jul–Mar

 

 

 

Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.

SC

Mar–Oct

 

 

 

Cyrtococcum trigonum (Retz.) A.Camus

SC

Sep–Oct

 

 

 

Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler

SC

Jul–Nov

 

 

 

Dimeria copeana Sreek., V.J.Nair & N.C.Nair

SC

Dec–Mar

SI (K)

 

 

D. hohenackeri Hochst. ex Miq.

SC/RC

Oct–Dec

PI

EN

 

D. stapfiana C.E.Hubb. ex Pilg.

SC/RC

Oct–Dec

SI

 

 

D. thwaitesii Hack. in A.DC. & C.DC.

SC/RC

Sep–Dec

I & SL

 

 

Echinochloa colona (L.) Link

SP

Jan–Dec

 

LC

 

Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Eragrostis amabilis (L.) Wight & Arn.

SC

Jul–Nov

 

 

 

E. atrovirens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

E. gangetica (Roxb.) Steud.

SC

Jun–Dec

 

 

 

E. unioloides (Retz.) Nees ex Steud.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

LC

 

Eulalia trispicata (Schult.) Henrard

SC

Oct–Mar

 

 

 

Glyphochloa acuminata (Hack.) Clayton var. acuminata

SC/SP/RC

Oct–Feb

PI

 

 

G. acuminata var. woodrowii (Bor) Clayton

RC

Oct–Dec

SI

 

 

Heteropogon contortus (L.) P.Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult.

SC

Oct–Dec

 

 

 

Isachne globosa (Thunb.) Kuntze

SC

Jan–Dec

 

LC

 

I. miliacea Roth

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

I. veldkampii K.G.Bhat & Nagendran

SP

Aug–Oct

SI

CR

 

Ischaemum barbatum Retz.

SP

Oct–Jan

 

 

 

I. cannanorense Sreek., V.J.Nair & N.C.Nair

RC

Sep–Dec

SI (K)

 

 

I. ciliare Retz.

SC

Oct–Nov

 

 

 

I. keralense Sreek., V.J.Nair & N.C.Nair

SC

Oct–Dec

SWG (K)

 

 

I. lanatum Ravi, N.Mohanan & Shaju

TS

Oct–Jan

SWG (K)

 

 

I. rangacharianum C.E.C.Fisch.

SP

Sep–Dec

SI & SL

 

 

Limnopoa meeboldii (C.E.C.Fisch.) C.E.Hubb.

SP

Sep–Nov

SI (K)

EN

 

Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka

SC

Mar–Aug

 

 

 

Oplismenus burmanni (Retz.) P.Beauv.

TS

Sep–Nov

 

 

 

Oryza rufipogon Griff.

SP

Sep–Mar

 

LC

 

O. sativa L.

SC

Sep–Jun

 

 

 

Panicum repens L.

SC

Jul–Sep

 

LC

 

Paspalidium geminatum (Forssk.) Stapf

SC

Jun–Mar

 

LC

 

Paspalum conjugatum P.J.Bergius

SC

Jan–Dec

 

LC

 

P. scrobiculatum L.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

LC

 

Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin.

SC

Sep–Dec

 

 

 

P. polystachion (L.) Schult.

SC

Apr–Dec

 

 

 

Pseudanthistiria umbellata  (Hack.) Hook.f.

TS

Nov–Dec

PI & SL

 

 

Sacciolepis interrupta (Willd.) Stapf

SP

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult.

SC

Jul–Oct

 

 

 

Sporobolus diandrus (Retz.) P.Beauv.

SC

Mar–Sep

 

 

 

S. pilifer (Trin.) Kunth

SC/RC

Sep–Dec

 

 

 

Themeda triandra Forssk.

SC

Oct–Jan

 

 

MENISPERMACEAE

Anamirta cocculus (L.) Wight & Arn.

TS

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

Cyclea peltata (Lam.) Hook.f. & Thomson

TS

Apr–May

I & SL

 

 

Diploclisia glaucescens (Blume) Diels

TS

Mar–Aug

 

 

 

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers.

TS

Jan–Jun

 

 

 

T. sinensis (Lour.) Merr.

TS

Feb–Jun

 

 

RANUNCULACEAE

Naravelia zeylanica (L.) DC.

TS

Oct–Apr

 

 

CRASSULACEAE

Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz

TS

Jul–Oct

 

 

VITACEAE

Ampelocissus latifolia (Roxb.) Planch.

TS

May–Jun

 

 

 

Cayratia tenuifolia (Wight & Arn.) Gagnep.

TS

Sep–Mar

 

 

 

C. trifolia (L.) Domin

RC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Cissus discolor Blume

TS

Jul–Jan

 

 

 

C. heyneana Steud.

TS

Apr–Jun

SI & SL

 

 

C. latifolia Lam.

TS

Jun–Sep

PI & SL

 

 

C. repens Lam.

TS

Nov–Dec

 

 

 

Leea indica (Burm.f.) Merr.

TS

Mar–Aug

 

 

FABACEAE:  Papilionoideae

Abrus precatorius L.

TS

Oct–May

 

 

 

A. pulchellus Wall. ex Thwaites

TS

Oct–Mar

 

 

 

Aeschynomene americana L.

SC

Sep–Dec

 

 

 

A. indica L.

SP

Aug–Dec

 

LC

 

Alysicarpus bupleurifolius (L.) DC.

SC/RC

Sep–Jan

 

LC

 

A. vaginalis (L.) DC. var. vaginalis

SC

Sep–Jan

 

 

 

Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.

SC

Dec–Mar

 

 

 

C. scarabaeoides (L.) Thouars

SC

Sep–Jan

 

LC

 

Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.

SC

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC.

TS

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

Centrosema molle Benth.

TS

Sep–Jan

 

 

 

Clitoria ternatea  L. var. ternatea

SC

Jul–Oct

 

 

 

Crotalaria evolvuloides Wight ex Wight & Arn.

SC

Oct–Feb

PI & SL

 

 

C. pallida  Aiton var. pallida

SC

Sep–Jan

 

 

 

C. quinquefolia L.

SC

Sep–Dec

 

LC

 

C. verrucosa L.

SC

Aug–Nov

 

 

 

Dalbergia horrida (Dennst.) Mabb. var. horrida

TS

Sep–Jan

SWG

 

 

Derris scandens (Roxb.) Benth.

TS

Jun–Dec

 

 

 

Desmodium heterophyllum (Willd.) DC.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

D. scorpiurus (Sw.) Desv.

SC

Dec–Jul

 

 

 

D. triflorum (L.) DC.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

D. triquetrum (L.) DC.

TS

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

Erythrina variegata L.

TS

Mar–Apr

 

LC

 

Geissaspis cristata Wight & Arn.

SP

Jul–Sep

 

LC

 

G. tenella  Benth. var. tenella

SP/RC

Aug–Nov

WG

LC

 

Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp.

TS

Mar–May

 

 

 

Indigofera hirsuta L.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

I. tinctoria L.

SC

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

I. trifoliata L.

SC

Sep–Dec

 

 

 

Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. pruriens

TS

Oct–Feb

 

 

 

Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre

TS

Apr–Dec

 

LC

 

Pseudarthria viscida (L.) Wight & Arn.

TS

Nov–Mar

PI & SL

 

 

Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.

TS

Sep–Oct

I & SL

VU

 

Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W.Wight

SP

Jul–Dec

 

LC

 

Smithia conferta Sm.

SC

Nov–Feb

 

 

 

S. salsuginea Hance

SC/ TS

Oct–Nov

PI

 

 

S. sensitiva Aiton

SC

Aug–Dec

 

LC

 

Stylosanthes fruticosa (Retz.) Alston

SC

Sep–Jan

 

 

 

S.guianensis (Aubl.) Sw.

SC

Jul–Nov

 

 

 

Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers.

SC

Oct–Dec

 

 

 

Vigna trilobata (L.) Verdc.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

Zornia gibbosa Span.

SC

Sep–Jan

 

 

FABACEAE: Caesalpinioideae

Bauhinia purpurea L.

TS

Sep–Dec

 

LC

 

B. scandens var. anguina (Roxb.) Ohashi

TS

Sep–Mar

 

 

 

Caesalpinia mimosoides Lam.

TS

Jan–Mar

 

 

 

Cassia fistula L.

TS

Feb–May

 

 

 

Chamaecrista mimosoides (L.) Greene

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

C. nictitans subsp. patellaria var. glabrata (Vogel) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

SC/RC

Aug–Oct

 

LC

 

Delonix regia (Bojer) Raf.

TS

Feb–Jul

 

LC

 

Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) Backer ex K.Heyne

TS

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Senna alata (L.) Roxb.

SC

Sep–Jan

 

 

 

S. hirsuta (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

SC

Sep–Dec

 

 

 

S. occidentalis (L.) Link

SC/ TS

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

S. siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

TS

Oct–Mar

 

 

 

S. tora  (L.) Roxb.

SC

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

Tamarindus indica L.

TS

Sep–Apr

 

 

FABACEAE: Mimosoideae

Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth.

TS

Jan–Dec

 

LC

 

A. caesia (L.) Willd.

TS

Oct–Dec

 

LC

 

A. mangium Willd.

TS

Jul–Feb

 

 

 

A. pennata (L.) Willd.

TS

Oct–Jan

 

 

 

Adenanthera pavonina L.

TS

Jan–Sep

 

 

 

Albizia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr.

TS

Mar–Jul

 

 

 

A. lebbeck (L.) Benth.

TS

Mar–Dec

 

 

 

A. saman (Jacq.) F.Muell.

TS

Mar–May

 

 

 

Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn.

SC

Oct–Jan

I & SL

LC

 

Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit

TS

Nov–Apr

 

 

 

Mimosa diplotricha  C.Wight ex Sauvalle  var. diplotricha

SC

Nov–Mar

 

 

 

M. pudica L.

SC

Jul–Jan

 

LC

POLYGALACEAE

Polygala elongata Klein ex Willd.

SC/RC

Jul–Jan

I & SL

 

 

Salomonia ciliata (L.) DC.

SC

Oct–Dec

 

 

RHAMNACEAE

Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.

TS

Feb–Jul

 

 

 

Z. oenopolia (L.) Mill.

TS

Nov–Mar

 

 

 

Z. rugosa Lam.

TS

Nov–May

 

 

ULMACEAE

Holoptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) Planch.

TS

Dec–Mar

 

 

CANNABACEAE

Celtis timorensis Span.

TS

Jan–Mar

 

 

 

Trema orientalis (L.) Blume

TS

Sep–Dec

 

 

MORACEAE

Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.

TS

Nov–Apr

 

 

 

Ficus arnottiana (Miq.) Miq.

TS

Dec–Apr

I & SL

 

 

F. benghalensis  L. var. benghalensis

TS

May–Aug

I

 

 

F. callosa Willd.

TS

Mar–Apr

 

 

 

F. exasperata Vahl

TS

Feb–Apr

 

 

 

F. heterophylla L.f.

SC

Sep–Dec

 

 

 

F. hispida L.f.

TS

Sep–May

 

 

 

F. racemosa L.

TS

Feb–May

 

 

 

F. religiosa L.

TS

Nov–Feb

 

 

 

F. tinctoria subsp. parasitica (Koen. ex Willd.) Corner

TS

Mar–Apr

 

 

 

Morus alba L.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

URTICACEAE

Laportea interrupta (L.) Chew

SC

Aug–Sep

 

 

 

Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm.

SC/RC

Aug–Nov

 

 

 

Pouzolzia zeylanica (L.) Benn.

SC

Aug–Dec

 

 

CUCURBITACEAE

Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt

SC

Dec–Apr

PI & SL

 

 

Cucumis sativus f. hardwickii (Royle) W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes

TS

Nov–May

 

 

 

Diplocyclos palmatus (L.) C.Jeffrey

TS

Nov–Jan

 

 

 

Mukia maderaspatana (L.) M.Roem.

TS

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) Gandhi

TS

Jul–Jan

 

 

 

Trichosanthes cucumerina L.

TS

Dec–May

 

 

 

T. tricuspidata var. tomentosa (Heyne ex C.B.Clarke) Kumari

TS

Dec–Jan

SWI & SL

 

BEGONIACEAE

Begonia crenata Dryand.

TS

Aug–Nov

WG

 

CELASTRACEAE

Glyptopetalum zeylanicum Thwaites

TS

Jul–Dec

PI & SL

 

 

Loeseneriella arnottiana (Wight) A.C.Sm.

TS

Feb–Mar

SI & SL

 

 

Salacia chinensis L.

TS

Feb–Mar

 

 

 

S. fruticosa Heyne ex M.A.Lawson

TS

Feb–May

WG

 

CONNARACEAE

Connarus paniculatus Roxb.

TS

Oct–May

 

 

 

Rourea minor (Gaertn.) Alston

TS

Dec–Aug

 

 

OXALIDACEAE

Biophytum reinwardtii (Zucc.) Klotzsch.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

RHIZOPHORACEAE

Carallia brachiata (Lour.) Merr.

TS

Oct–Apr

 

 

EUPHORBIACEAE

Agrostistachys indica Dalzell

TS

Feb–Mar

C & PI

 

 

Croton caudatus Geiseler

TS

Mar–May

 

 

 

Euphorbia deccanensis V.S.Raju

RC

Jul–Dec

SI (K)

 

 

E. heterophylla L.

SC

Jun–Aug

 

 

 

E. hirta L.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

E. thymifolia L.

SC

Nov–May

 

 

 

E. tithymaloides L.

SC

Apr–Aug

 

 

 

Falconeria insignis Royle

TS

Jan–Feb

 

 

 

Jatropha gossypiifolia L.

SC

Jul–Sep

 

 

 

Macaranga peltata (Roxb.) Müll.-Arg.

TS

Jan–Feb

I & SL

 

 

Mallotus philippensis (Lam.) Müll.-Arg.

TS

Oct–Mar

 

 

 

M. repandus (Rottler) Müll.–Arg.

TS

Nov–Jan

 

 

 

Micrococca mercurialis (L.) Benth.

SC

Jun–Dec

 

 

 

Microstachys chamaelea (L.) Müll.-Arg.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

Tragia involucrata L.

SC/TS

Jul–Dec

I & SL

 

OCHNACEAE

Gomphia serrata (Gaertn.) Kanis

TS

Jan–Dec

 

LC

PHYLLANTHACEAE

Antidesma ghaesembilla Gaertn.

TS

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

A. montanum Blume

TS

Dec–Apr

 

 

 

Aporosa cardiosperma (Gaertn.) Merr.

TS

Dec–Jun

PI & SL

 

 

Breynia vitis-idaea (Burm.f.) C.E.C.Fisch.

TS

Feb–Aug

I & SL

 

 

Bridelia retusa (L.) A.Juss.

TS

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

B. stipularis (L.) Blume

TS

Dec–Feb

PI

 

 

Flueggea leucopyrus Willd.

TS

Jun–Sep

 

 

 

F. virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Royle

SC

Mar–Sep

 

 

 

Phyllanthus airy-shawii Jean F.Brunel & J.P.Roux

SC

Jul–Jan

PI & SL

 

 

P. amarus Schumach. & Thonn.

SC

Jul–Oct

 

 

 

P. emblica L.

TS

Jul–Feb

 

 

 

P. reticulatus Poir.

SC/TS

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

P. urinaria L.

SC

Jul–Oct

 

 

 

P. virgatus var. virgatus G.Forst.

SC/RC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr.

TS

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

S. quadrangularis (Willd.) Müll.-Arg.

TS

Jan–Dec

 

 

MALPIGHIACEAE

Aspidopterys canarensis Dalzell

TS

Feb–May

WG

 

PASSIFLORACEAE

Passiflora foetida  L. var. foetida

TS

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

P. foetida var. hispida (DC. ex Triana & Planch.) Killip

TS

Nov–Mar

 

 

 

Turnera ulmifolia L.

TS

May–Dec

 

 

SALICACEAE

Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr.

TS

Nov–Mar

 

 

VIOLACEAE

Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F.Muell.

SC

Jul–Nov

 

 

ACHARIACEAE

Hydnocarpus pentandrus (Buch.-Ham.) Oken

TS

Dec–May

WG

 

LINACEAE

Hugonia mystax L.

TS

Aug–Oct

I & SL

 

CLUSIACEAE

Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) N.Robson var. gummi-gutta

TS

Jan–Sep

SI & SL

 

COMBRETACEAE

Calycopteris floribunda (Roxb.) Lam. ex Poir.

TS

Jan–May

 

 

 

Combretum indicum (L.) DeFilipps

TS

Jul–Mar

 

 

 

C. latifolium Blume

TS

Dec–Apr

 

 

 

Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.

TS

Dec–Jan

 

 

 

T. catappa L.

TS

Mar–Jan

 

 

 

T. paniculata Roth

TS

Aug–Feb

PI

 

LYTHRACEAE

Ammannia baccifera L. subsp. baccifera

SP

Sep–Dec

 

LC

 

Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.

TS

Mar–Nov

 

 

 

Lawsonia inermis L.

TS

Dec–May

 

 

 

Rotala indica (Willd.) Koehne

SP

Jul–Dec

 

LC

 

R. macrandra Koehne

SP

Sep–Jan

WG

LC

 

R. malabarica Pradeep, K.T.Joseph & Sivar.

SP

Jul–Sep

SI (K)

CR

 

R. malampuzhensis R.V.Nair ex C.D.K.Cook

SP

Jul–Sep

WG

LC

 

R. rosea(Poir.) C.D.K.Cook

SP

Aug–Feb

 

LC

ONAGRACEAE

Ludwigia hyssopifolia (G.Don) Exell

SP/SC

Aug–Dec

 

LC

MYRTACEAE

Syzygium caryophyllatum (L.) Alston

TS

Feb–Jun

 

EN

 

S. cumini (L.) Skeels

TS

Dec–Apr

 

 

 

S. jambos (L.) Alston

TS

Oct–Jan

 

 

MELASTOMATACEAE

Melastoma malabathricum L.

TS

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Memecylon randerianum S.M.Almeida & M.R.Almeida

TS

Feb–May

SWG

 

 

M. umbellatum Burm.f.

TS/SC

Feb–Mar

PI & SL

 

 

Osbeckia muralis Naudin

SC

Sep–Dec

WG

 

ANACARDIACEAE

Anacardium occidentale L.

TS

Nov–Apr

 

 

 

Holigarna arnottiana Hook.f.

TS

Jan–Jul

SWG

 

 

Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr.

TS

Jan–May

 

 

 

Mangifera indica L.

TS

Jan–May

 

DD

 

Nothopegia heyneana (Hook.f.) Gamble

TS

May–Jun

WG

NT

 

Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Kurz

TS

Mar–Dec

 

 

SAPINDACEAE

Allophylus cobbe (L.) Raeusch.

TS

Jul–Nov

 

 

 

A. serratus (Roxb.) Kurz

TS

Jul–Oct

I & SL

 

 

Cardiospermum halicacabum L.

TS

Jul–Feb

 

 

 

Sapindus trifoliatus L.

TS

Dec–Apr

 

 

 

Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken

TS

Mar–Jun

 

 

RUTACEAE

Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa

TS

Mar–May

I & SL

 

 

Glycosmis mauritiana (Lam.) Tanaka

TS

Oct–May

 

 

 

G. pentaphylla (Retz.) DC.

TS

Sep–Apr

 

 

 

Melicope lunu-ankenda (Gaertn.) T.G.Hartley

TS

May–Jul

 

 

 

Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng.

TS

Mar–Jul

 

 

 

Zanthoxylum rhetsum (Roxb.) DC.

TS

Mar–Nov

 

 

SIMAROUBACEAE

Ailanthus triphysa (Dennst.) Alston

TS

Dec–Jul

 

 

MELIACEAE

Aglaia elaeagnoidea (A.Juss.) Benth.

TS

Aug–Dec

 

LC

 

Azadirachta indica A.Juss.

TS

Feb–Sep

 

 

 

Naregamia alata Wight & Arn.

SC/TS

Aug–Dec

PI

 

MALVACEAE

Corchorus aestuans L.

SC

Aug–Feb

 

 

Grewioideae

C. capsularis L.

SC

Jul–Nov

 

 

 

Grewia nervosa (Lour.) Panigrahi

TS

Aug–Apr

 

 

 

Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq.

TS/SC

Aug–Feb

 

 

Byttnerioideae

Melochia corchorifolia L.

SC

Jul–Apr

 

 

 

Waltheria indica L.

SC

Oct–Jan

 

 

Sterculioideae

Sterculia guttata Roxb. ex DC.

TS

Sep–Mar

 

 

Dombeyoideae

Pterospermum diversifolium Blume

TS

Dec–Apr

 

 

 

P. rubiginosum B.Heyne ex Wight & Arn.

TS

Nov–Apr

SWG

 

Helecteroideae

Helicteres isora L.

TS

Sep–Mar

 

 

Malvoideae

Abelmoschus angulosus var. grandiflorus Thwaites

SC/TS

Aug–Dec

SI & SL

 

 

Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet var. indicum

SC

Sep–Apr

 

 

 

Fioria vitifolia (L.) Mattei

TS

Apr–Dec

 

 

 

Hibiscus hispidissimus Griff.

TS

Sep–Mar

 

 

 

H. sabdariffa L.

TS

Dec–Feb

 

 

 

H. surattensis L.

TS

Oct–Jan

 

 

 

Sida acuta Burm.f.

SC

Aug–Oct

 

 

 

S. alnifolia L.

SC/TS

Sep–Dec

 

 

 

S. mysorensis Wight & Arn.

SC

Oct–Feb

 

 

 

Urena sinuata L.

SC

Aug–Dec

 

 

Bombacoideae

Bombax ceiba L.

TS

Jan–Apr

 

 

 

Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.

TS

Feb–Jun

 

 

DIPTEROCARPACEAE

Hopea ponga (Dennst.) Mabb.

TS

Mar–Jun

SWG

EN

CAPPARACEAE

Capparis floribunda Wight

TS

Feb–Jun

 

 

 

C. rheedei DC.

TS

Feb–Jun

WG

 

 

C. zeylanica L.

TS

Mar–May

 

 

CLEOMACEAE

Cleome monophylla L.

SC

Feb–Aug

 

 

 

C. rutidosperma DC.

SC

May–Nov

 

 

 

C. viscosa L.

SC/RC

Mar–Jul

 

 

BRASSICACEAE

Brassica nigra (L.) K.Koch.

SC

Mar–May

 

 

OPILIACEAE

Cansjera rheedei J.F.Gmel.

TS

Nov–Feb

 

 

SANTALACEAE

Santalum album L.

TS

Nov–Dec

 

VU

LORANTHACEAE

Dendrophthoe falcata (L.f.) Ettingsh. var. falcata

TS

Dec–May

 

 

 

Helicanthes elastica (Desr.) Danser

TS

Dec–Mar

WG

 

 

Helixanthera intermedia (Wight) Danser

TS

Feb–Jun

SWG

 

 

Macrosolen parasiticus (L.) Danser

TS

Dec–May

SWI & SL

 

PLUMBAGINACEAE

Plumbago zeylanica L.

TS

Nov–Mar

 

 

POLYGONACEAE

Persicaria barbata (L.) H.Hara

TS

Aug–Mar

 

LC

DROSERACEAE

Drosera indica L.

SC/RC/SP

Jul–Nov

 

LC

ANCISTROCLADACEAE

Ancistrocladus heyneanus Wall. ex J.Graham

TS

Mar–Apr

SI & SL

 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Polycarpaea corymbosa (L.) Lam.

RC

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

Polycarpon prostratum (Forssk.) Asch. & Sehweinf.

SC

Jan–Mar

 

 

AMARANTHACEAE

Achyranthes aspera L.

TS

Oct–Mar

 

 

 

Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult.

TS

Sep–Apr

 

 

 

Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze

TS/SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

A. sessilis (L.) R.Br. ex. DC.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

LC

 

A. tenella  Colla var. tenella

SC

Jun–Dec

 

 

 

Amaranthus spinosus L.

SC

Jun–Dec

 

 

 

A. viridis L.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

Celosia argentea  L. var. argentea

RC/SC

Nov–Dec

 

 

 

Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume

TS

Sep–Apr

 

 

 

Gomphrena globosa L.

SC

Aug–Jun

 

 

 

G. serrata L.

SC

Jul–Nov

 

 

AIZOACEAE

Trianthema portulacastrum L.

SC

Apr–Jun

 

 

NYCTAGINACEAE

Boerhavia diffusa L.

SC

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

Bougainvillea glabra Choisy

TS

Nov–Jun

 

 

 

Mirabilis jalapa L.

SC

Aug–Apr

 

 

MOLLUGINACEAE

Glinus oppositifolius (L.) Aug.DC.

SC

Feb–Apr

 

 

 

Mollugo stricta L.

SC

Sep–Dec

 

 

PORTULACACEAE

Portulaca oleracea L.

SC

Jun–Sep

 

 

CACTACEAE

Cereus pterogonus Lem.

SC

Apr–Jun

 

 

 

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.

SC

Nov–Mar

 

DD

CORNACEAE

Alangium salviifolium subsp. hexapetalum (Lam.) Wangerin

TS

Mar–Aug

 

 

BALSAMINACEAE

Impatiens balsamina L.

SC

Mar–Oct

 

 

 

I. flaccida Arn.

SC

Jul–Oct

SI & SL

 

 

I. minor (DC.) Bennet

SC/RC

Aug–Dec

PI

 

LECYTHIDACEAE

Careya arborea Roxb.

TS

Feb–Jul

 

 

SAPOTACEAE

Chrysophyllum cainito L.

TS

Jul–Sep

 

 

 

Madhuca longifolia (J.Koenig ex L.) J.F. Macbr.

TS

Mar–Jun

 

 

 

Mimusops elengi L.

TS

Dec–Aug

 

 

EBENACEAE

Diospyros candolleana Wight

TS

Apr–Mar

PI

 

ICACINACEAE

Sarcostigma kleinii Wight & Arn.

TS

Feb–Jun

 

 

RUBIACEAE

Argostemma courtallense Arn.

TS/RC

Jul–Sep

I

 

 

Benkara malabarica (Lam.) Tirveng.

TS

Jan–May

PI & SL

 

 

Canthium coromandelicum (Burm.f.) Alston

TS

Apr–Jun

 

 

 

C. rheedei DC.

TS

Mar–Jun

PI

 

 

Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tirveng.

TS

Apr–Dec

 

 

 

Chassalia curviflora var. ophioxyloides (Wall.) Deb & B.Krishna

TS

Jul–Feb

 

 

 

Dentella repens (L.) J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. var. repens

SC

Mar–Apr

 

LC

 

Discospermum sphaerocarpum Dalzell ex Hook.f.

TS

Apr–Jun

WG & SL

 

 

Ixora brachiata Roxb.

TS

Jan–May

WG

 

 

I. coccinea L.

TS

Jan–Dec

PI & SL

 

 

I. javanica (Blume) DC.

SC

Nov–Jul

 

 

 

I. malabarica (Dennst.) Mabb.

TS

Oct–Mar

SWG

VU

 

Mitracarpus hirtus (L.) DC.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth.

TS

Mar–Dec

 

 

 

Morinda citrifolia L.

TS

Jul–Nov

 

 

 

M. pubescens J.E.Smith

TS

Mar–Jun

 

 

 

Mussaenda frondosa L.

TS

Sep–Mar

PI

 

 

Neanotis rheedei (Wall. ex Wight & Arn.) W.H. Lewis

RC

Sep–Dec

WG

 

 

N. subtilis (Miq.) Govaerts ex Punekar & Lakshmin.

RC/SC

Aug–Dec

SI

 

 

Oldenlandia auricularia (L.) K.Schum.

TS

Oct–Dec

 

 

 

O. corymbosa  L. var. corymbosa

SC

Apr–Sep

 

 

 

O. herbacea (L.) Roxb.

RC/SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

Pavetta indica L. var. indica

TS

Apr–Jul

 

 

 

Spermacoce articularis L.f.

SC

Oct–Dec

 

 

 

S. latifolia Aubl.

SC

Aug–Oct

 

 

 

S. ocymoides Burm.f.

SC

Nov–Dec

 

 

 

S. pusilla Wall.

SC

Oct–Nov

 

 

GENTIANACEAE

Canscora pauciflora Dalzell

SC

Jul–Nov

WG

 

 

Canscorinella stricta (Sedgw.) Nampy & Shahina

RC

Aug–Feb

SI

 

 

Hoppea fastigiata (Griseb.) C.B.Clarke

SC

Sep–Oct

 

LC

LOGANIACEAE

Mitrasacme indica Wight

SC

Sep–Oct

 

 

 

M. pygmaea var. malaccensis (Wight) Hara

SC

Jun–Aug

 

 

 

Strychnos minor Dennst.

TS

Sep–Oct

 

 

 

S. nux–vomica L.

TS

Mar–Dec

 

 

APOCYNACEAE Rauvolfioideae

Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br.

TS

Oct–Feb

 

LC

 

Catharanthus pusillus (Murray) G.Don

SC

Apr–Oct

I & SL

 

 

Kamettia caryophyllata (Roxb.) Nicolson & C.R.Suresh

TS

Sep–Jan

SWG

 

 

Plumeria rubra L.

TS

Nov–Apr

 

 

 

Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz

TS

Apr–Oct

 

 

 

Tabernaemontana alternifolia L.

TS

Apr–Oct

SWG

 

 

T. divaricata (L.) R.Br. ex Roem. & Schult.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

Apocynoideae

Aganosma cymosa (Roxb.) G.Don

TS

Apr–Dec

PI & SL

 

 

Holarrhena pubescens (Buch.–Ham.) Wall. ex G. Don

TS

Apr–Oct

 

LC

 

Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) W.T.Aiton

TS

Aug–Mar

 

 

 

Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R.Br.

TS

Feb–Nov

 

 

Periplocoideae

Gymnema sylvestre Roem. & Schult.

TS

Mar–Aug

 

 

 

Cryptolepis buchananii (Retz.) R.Br. ex Sm.

TS/SC

Jul–Jan

PI & SL

 

 

Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br.

TS

Aug–Dec

I & SL

 

Asclepiadoideae

Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Cosmostigma racemosum (Roxb.) Wight

TS

Apr–Jun

 

 

 

Holostemma ada-kodien Schult.

SC

Sep–Nov

 

 

 

Tylophora capparidifolia Wight & Arn.

TS

Mar–Jun

SWG

 

 

T. indica (Burm.f.) Merr. var. indica

TS

Feb–Jul

 

 

 

Wattakaka volubilis (L.f.) Stapf

TS

Mar–Jul

 

 

BORAGINACEAE

Coldenia procumbens L.

SC

Mar–May

 

 

 

Cordia obliqua Willd.

TS

Mar–Aug

 

 

 

Heliotropium keralense Sivar. & Manilal

SC

Mar–May

SWG

 

 

H. marifolium Retz.

RC/SC

Apr–Aug

PI & SL

 

CONVOLVULACEAE

Argyreia nervosa (Burm.f.) Bojer

TS

Dec–Jun

 

 

 

Bonamia semidigyna (Roxb.) Hallier f.

TS

Nov–Mar

 

 

 

Erycibe paniculata Roxb.

TS

Nov–Mar

 

 

 

Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L. var. alsinoides

RC/SC

Mar–Aug

 

 

 

E. nummularius (L.) L.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Ipomoea hederifolia L.

TS

Oct–Dec

 

 

 

I. marginata (Desr.) Manitz  f. marginata

TS/SC

Dec–Mar

 

 

 

I. mauritiana Jacq.

TS

Aug–Sep

 

 

 

I. nil (L.) Roth

TS

Nov–Jan

 

 

 

I. obscura (L.) Ker Gawl.

TS

Oct–Mar

 

 

 

I. pes-caprae (L.) R.Br. subsp. pes-caprae

SC

Nov–Mar

 

 

 

I. quamoclit L.

SC

Oct–Dec

 

 

 

I. triloba L.

TS

Sep–Mar

 

 

 

Merremia umbellata (L.) Hallier f.

TS

Jan–Apr

 

 

 

M. vitifolia (Burm.f.) Hallier f.

TS/SC

Nov–Feb

 

 

 

Neuropeltis malabarica Ooststr.

TS

Nov–Mar

SWG (K)

 

 

Xenostegia tridentata subsp. hastata (Desr.) Panigrahi & Murti

TS/SC

Sep–Mar

 

 

 

X. tridentata (L.) D.F.Austin & Staples  subsp. tridentata

RC/SC

Nov–Jan

 

 

SOLANACEAE

Datura stramonium L.

SC

Jul–Sep

 

 

 

Physalis angulata L.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

Solanum americanum Mill.

SC

Mar–Nov

 

 

 

S. melongena var. insanum Prain

TS

Aug–Mar

 

 

 

S. torvum Sw.

SC

Jul–Mar

 

 

HYDROLEACEAE

Hydrolea zeylanica (L.) Vahl

SP

Aug–Jan

 

LC

OLEACEAE

Jasminum coarctatum Roxb.

TS

Jan–Jun

PI & SL

 

 

J. flexile Vahl

TS

Oct–Mar

PI & SL

 

 

J. malabaricum Wight

TS

Mar–Nov

WG

 

 

Olea dioica Roxb.

TS

Nov–Apr

I

 

GESNERIACEAE

Rhynchoglossum notonianum (Wall.) B.L. Burtt

TS

Jul–Dec

SWI & SL

 

PLANTAGINACEAE

Dopatrium junceum (Roxb.) Buch.-Ham. ex Benth.

SP

Aug–Oct

 

LC

 

Limnophila repens (Benth.) Benth.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

LC

 

Microcarpaea minima (K.D.Koenig ex Retz.) Merr.

SC

Aug–Dec

 

LC

 

Scoparia dulcis L.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Stemodia verticillata (Mill.) Hassl.

SC

May–Sep

 

 

LINDERNIACEAE

Bonnaya antipoda (L.) Druce

SC

Aug–Oct

 

 

 

B. ciliata (Colsm.) Spreng.

SC

Jun–Oct

 

 

 

B. oppositifolia (Retz.) Spreng.

SC

Jul–Oct

PI

 

 

Lindernia hyssopioides (L.) Haines

SP

Mar–Sep

 

 

 

L. madayiparensis Ratheesh, Sunil & Nandakumar

SP

Oct–Dec

SI (K)

 

 

L. manilaliana Sivar.

SC

Aug–Dec

SI (K)

EN

 

L. tamilnadensis M.G.Prasad & Sunojk.

SC

Oct–Mar

SI

 

 

Torenia crustacea (L.) Cham. & Schltdl.

SC

Aug–Nov

 

 

 

T. lindernioides C.J.Saldanha

SC

Jul–Mar

SWG

 

 

Vandellia micrantha (D.Don) Eb. Fisch.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

V. pusilla (Willd.) Merr.

SC

Aug–Oct

 

 

PEDALIACEAE

Sesamum indicum subsp. malabaricum (Burm.) Bedigian

SC

Jan–Sep

I

 

LAMIACEAE Symphorematoideae

Symphorema involucratum Roxb.

TS

Mar–Apr

 

 

Viticoideae

Gmelina arborea Roxb.

TS

Jan–Jun

 

 

 

Premna serratifolia L.

TS

May–Nov

 

 

 

Vitex altissima L.f.

TS

Mar–Jul

 

 

 

V. negundo L.

SC

Feb–Jul

 

 

 

V. trifolia L.

SC

May–Jul

 

 

Ajugoideae

Clerodendrum calamitosum L.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

C. indicum (L.) Kuntze

SC

Sep–Dec

 

 

 

C. infortunatum L.

TS

Dec–Feb

 

 

 

C. paniculatum L.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

Rotheca serrata (L.) Steane & Mabb.

TS

Aug–Dec

 

 

Lamioideae

Leucas lavandulifolia Sm.

SC

Jul–Oct

 

 

 

Pogostemon deccanensis (Panigrahi) Press

SP

Sep–Dec

SI

 

 

P. paniculatus (Willd.) Benth.

TS

Oct–Feb

 

 

 

P. quadrifolius (Benth.) F.Muell.

SC

Aug–Dec

I

DD

Nepetoideae

Anisochilus carnosus (L.f.) Wall.

RC

Sep–Dec

 

 

 

Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit.

SC/TS

Aug–Feb

 

 

 

Ocimum tenuiflorum L.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

Lamiaceae: Incertae sedis

Tectona grandis L.f.

TS

May–Jan

 

 

OROBANCHACEAE

Aeginetia indica L.

TS

Aug–Sep

 

 

 

Centranthera nepalensis D.Don

SC

Sep–Dec

SI

 

 

C. tranquebarica (Spreng.) Merr.

SC

Sep–Nov

 

LC

 

Parasopubia hofmannii  Pradeep & Pramod  var. hofmannii

RC/SC

Jun–Oct

SI

 

 

P. hofmannii var. albiflora Pradeep & Pramod

RC/SC

Jun–Oct

SI

 

 

Rhamphicarpa longiflora (Arn.) Benth.

SC/SP

Aug–Nov

I

 

 

Striga angustifolia (D.Don) C.J.Saldanha

SC

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

S. asiatica (L.) Kuntze

SC

Jul–Sep

 

 

 

S. gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke

SC

Aug–Nov

 

 

LENTIBULARIACEAE

Utricularia aurea Lour.

SP

Aug–Dec

 

LC

 

U. cecilii P.Taylor

SP

Aug–Oct

WG

EN

 

U. graminifolia Vahl

SP

Aug–Oct

 

LC

 

U. lazulina P.Taylor

SC

Aug–Oct

WG

LC

 

U. uliginosa Vahl

SC

Aug–Nov

 

 

ACANTHACEAE

Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees

SC/TS

Mar–Dec

PI & SL

 

 

Asystasia dalzelliana Santapau

TS

Sep–Jan

 

 

 

A. gangetica (L.) T.Anderson subsp. gangetica

TS

Sep–Mar

 

 

 

Barleria courtallica Nees

TS

Dec–May

I & SL

 

 

B. prionitis L. subsp. prionitis

SC

Aug–Mar

 

 

 

Crossandra infundibuliformis (L.) Nees

SC

Dec–Mar

I & SL

 

 

Dicliptera paniculata (Forssk.) I.Darbysh.

TS

Dec–Feb

 

 

 

Ecbolium viride (Forssk.) Alston  var. viride

TS

Nov–Feb

 

 

 

Eranthemum capense L.

TS

Jan–Mar

PI & SL

 

 

Haplanthodes neilgherryensis (Wight) R.B.Majumdar

SC/TS

Jan–Mar

WG

 

 

Hygrophila ringens (L.) Steud.

SC

Oct–Mar

 

 

 

Justicia adhatoda L.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

J. ekakusuma Pradeep & Sivar.

RC/SC

Aug–Sep

SI (K)

 

 

J. japonica Thunb.

SC

Aug–Feb

 

 

 

J. nagpurensis V.A.W.Graham

SC/RC

May–Nov

SWI

 

 

Lepidagathis cuspidata Nees

SC

Feb–Jun

I

 

 

L. incurva  Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don  var. incurva

TS

Feb–Apr

 

 

 

L. keralensis Madhus. & N.P.Singh

RC/SC

Dec–Apr

SI (K)

 

 

Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.) Sweet

SC/TS

Nov–Mar

 

LC

 

Pseuderanthemum malabaricum (C.B.Clarke) Gamble

TS

Dec–Mar

PI & SL

 

 

Ruellia prostrata Poir.

TS

Oct–Apr

I

 

 

Rungia pectinata (L.) Nees

SC/TS

Nov–Feb

 

 

 

Strobilanthes integrifolia (Dalzell) Kuntze

TS

Dec–Mar

WG

 

 

Thunbergia erecta (Benth.) T.Anderson

TS

Jan–Dec

 

 

BIGNONIACEAE

Millingtonia hortensis L.f.

TS

Mar–Aug

 

 

 

Pajanelia longifolia (Willd.) K.Schum.

TS

Jan–Jun

 

 

 

Stereospermum tetragonum DC.

TS

Feb–Oct

 

 

VERBENACEAE

Lantana camara L.

TS

Apr–Jun

 

 

 

Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene

SC

Nov–Dec

 

LC

 

Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl

SC/TS

Jun–Dec

 

 

CAMPANULACEAE

Lobelia alsinoides Lam.

SC

Aug–Oct

 

LC

MENYANTHACEAE

Nymphoides indica (L.) Kuntze

SP

Jan–Dec

 

LC

 

N. krishnakesara K.T.Joseph & Sivar.

SP

Aug–Nov

SWG (K)

EN

ASTERACEAE

Acanthospermum hispidum DC.

SC

Jan–Jun

 

 

 

Acmella ciliata (Kunth) Cass.

SC

Aug–Sep

 

 

 

A. radicans (Jacq.) R.K.Jansen

SC

Oct–Mar

 

 

 

Ageratum conyzoides L.

SC

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

Blumea axillaris (Lam.) DC.

SC/TS

Jan–Nov

 

 

 

B. barbata DC.

SC/TS

Dec–Mar

SI & SL

 

 

B. oxyodonta DC.

SC

Oct–May

 

 

 

Centratherum punctatum Cass.

SC

Aug–Jan

 

 

 

Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob.

TS

Nov–May

 

 

 

Conyza stricta Willd.

SC

Sep–Oct

 

 

 

Cosmos caudatus Kunth

SC

Aug–Feb

 

 

 

C. sulphureus Cav.

SC

Feb–Nov

 

 

 

Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) S.Moore

SC

Aug–Dec

 

 

 

Cyanthillium cinereum (L.) H.Rob.

SC/TS

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

DD

 

Elephantopus scaber L.

SC/TS

Oct–Jan

 

 

 

Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC.

SC

Jul–Dec

 

 

 

Epaltes divaricata (L.) Cass.

SC

Dec–Apr

 

LC

 

Grangea maderaspatana (L.) Poir.

SC

Mar–Jul

 

LC

 

Mikania micrantha Kunth

TS

Feb–Apr

 

 

 

Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski

SC

May–Sep

 

 

 

Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn.

SC/TS

Jan–Dec

 

 

 

Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray

SC

Sep–May

 

 

 

Tricholepis amplexicaulis C.B.Clarke

SC

Oct–Feb

WG

 

 

Tridax procumbens L.

SC

Jan–Dec

 

 

APIACEAE

Pimpinella heyneana (DC.) Benth.

SC

Oct–Feb

 

 

Microhabitat: RC—Exposed rock surfaces and crevices | SC—Soil covered areas and grassy plains and slopes | SP—Seasonal ponds and small ephemeral pools | TS—Tree cover and scrub patches.

Endemism: C&PI—central and peninsular India | I—India | K—Kerala | PI—Peninsular India | SI—southern India | SL—Sri Lanka | SWG—southern Western Ghats | SWI—southwestern India | WG—Western Ghats.

IUCN Status: CR—Critically Endangered | DD—Data Deficient | EN—Endangered | LC—Least Concerned | NT—Near Threatened | VU—Vulnerable | Blank—not assessed.

 

 

Table 2. List of novel taxa described from Madayippara Lateritic Plateau

 

Taxa

Family

Year of Publication

Reference

1

Rotala malabarica

Lythraceae

1990

Pradeep, A.K., K.T. Joseph & V.V. Sivarajan, Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica 31: 59–61.

2

Nymphoides krishnakesara

Menyanthaceae

1990

Joseph, K.T. & V.V. Sivarajan, Nordic Journal of Botany 10(3): 281–284.

3

Justicia ekakusuma

Acanthaceae

1991

Pradeep, A.K. & V.V. Sivarajan, Rheedea 1(1&2): 40–43.

4

Lepidagathis keralensis

Acanthaceae

1992

Madhusoodanan, P.V. & N.P. Singh, Kew Bulletin 47(2): 301–303.

5

Eriocaulon madayiparense

Eriocaulaceae

2012

Swapna, M.M., K.P. Rajesh, C.N. Manju & R. Prakashkumar, Phytokeys 10: 19–23.

6

Coelachne madayensis

Poaceae

2012

Pramod, C., A.K. Pradeep & J.F. Veldkamp, Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 64(2): 289–292.

7

Parasopubia hofmannii

Orobanchaceae

2013

Pradeep, A.K. & C. Pramod, Candollea 68(1): 115–122.

8

Parasopubia hofmannii var. albiflora

Orobanchaceae

2013

Pradeep, A.K. & C. Pramod, Candollea 68(1): 115–122.

9

Fimbristylis pokkudaniana 

Cyperaceae

2016

Sunil, C.N., M.K. Ratheesh Narayanan, M. Sivadasan, V.V. Naveenkumar, A.H. Alfarhan, V. Abdul Jaleel & M.H. Sameh, Botany Letters 164 (1): 19–22.

10

Chrysopogon narayaniae 

Poaceae

2017

Sunil, C.N., M.K. Ratheesh Narayanan, M. Sivadasan, T. Shaju, V.V. Naveen Kumar & A.H. Alfarhan, Phytotaxa 307(4): 245–253.

 

 

Table 3. Number of species, endemics and threatened species in different microhabitats.

Microhabitat

Number of species recorded

Number of endemic species

Percentage of endemic species

Number of threatened species

Percentage of threatened species

Exposed rock surfaces and crevices (RC)

40

25

63%

1

3%

Seasonal ponds and small ephemeral pools (SP)

47

20

43%

5

11%

Soil covered areas and grassy plains and slopes (SC)

297

56

19%

3

1%

Tree cover and scrub patches (TS)

308

86

28%

5

2%

 

 

For figures & images - - click here

 

 

References

 

Anonymous (2019). Wastelands Atlas of India. Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, New Delhi & National Remote Sensing Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation, Dept. of Space, Govt. of India, Hyderabad, 243pp.

Ansari, R., V.J. Nair & N.C. Nair (1982). Two new taxa of Curcuma Linn. (Zingiberaceae) from Cannanore District, Kerala, India. Current Science 51(6): 293–294.

APG IV (2016). An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG IV. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 181: 1–20.

Balakrishnan, V.C., M.J. Palot & K.P. Rajesh (2011). Observations on the Flora of Madayipara, a midland laterite hill in Kannur District, Kerala. Malabar Trogon 8(2&3): 14–29.

Bhat, K.G. & C.R. Nagendran (1983). A new species of Isachne (Poaceae) from Karnataka, India. Current Science 52(6): 258–259.

Bhattarai, U., P. Tetali & S. Kelso (2012). Contributions of vulnerable hydrogeomorphic habitats to endemic plant diversity on the Kas Plateau, Western Ghats. SpringerPlus 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-1-25

Biju, P., E.J. Josekutty & J. Augustine (2016a). Blyxa kasaragodensis, a new species of Hydrocharitaceae from the ponds in the laterite plateau of Malabar Coast, Kerala, India. Webbia 71(1): 61–67. https://doi.org/10.1080/00837792.2016.1160648

Biju, P., E.J. Josekutty & J. Augustine (2016b). A new species of Lobelia L. (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae) from the lateritic plateau of northern Kerala, India. Webbia 71(2): 183–186. https://doi.org/10.1080/00837792.2016.1175734   

Biju P., E.J. Josekutty, K.A.R.M. Haneef & J. Augustine (2016c). A new species of Nymphoides Séguier (Menyanthaceae) from the lateritic plateau of South India. Taiwania 61(3): 218–220. https://doi.org/10.6165/tai.2016.61.218

Bokil, S.A., R.K. Choudhary, S. Tamhankar & M.N. Datar (2020). Ischaemum janarthanamii (Poaceae, Andropogoneae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India: evidence from morphological and molecular data. In Annales Botanici Fennici  57(4–6): 321–330. https://doi.org/10.5735/085.057.0415   

Chandran M.D.S., T.V. Ramachandra, N.V. Joshi, G.R. Rao, P.N. Mesta, C. Balachandran & S.N. Dudani (2012). Conservation Reserve status to Lateritic Plateaus of Coastal Uttara Kannada. ENVIS Technical Report: 51, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 32pp.

Darshetkar, A.M., M.N. Datar, S. Tamhankar & R.K. Choudhary (2017). Eriocaulon parvicephalum (Eriocaulaceae), a new species from Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 303(3): 233–242.

Desai, M. & A.B. Shanbhag (2012). An avifaunal case study of a plateau from Goa, India: an eye opener for conservation of plateau ecosystems. Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(3): 2444–2453. https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2480.2444-53

Fosberg, F.R. & M.H. Sachet (1965). Manual of Tropical Herbaria (Regnum Vegetabile 39). International Bureau for Plant Taxonomy and Nomenclature, Utrecht, Netherlands, 132pp.

Gad, H.S. & M.K. Janarthanam (2007). A New Species of Ischaemum (Poaceae) from Goa, India. Kew Bulletin 62(3): 499–501.

Gaikwad, S.P., M.M. Sardesai & S.R. Yadav (2014). Rotala sahyadrica sp. nov. (Lythraceae) from Western Ghats, India. Nordic Journal of Botany 32: 575–577. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.2013.00322.x   

IUCN (2012). IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. Second edition. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Jacobi, C.M., F.F. do Carmo, R.C. Vincent & J.R. Stehmann (2007). Plant communities on ironstone outcrops: a diverse and endangered Brazilian Ecosystem. Biodivers Conserv 16: 2185–2200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-007-9156-8  

Joseph, K.T. & V.V. Sivarajan (1990). A new species of Nymphoides (Menyanthaceae) from India. Nordic Journal of Botany 10(3): 281–284.

Joshi, V.C. & M.K. Janarthanam (2004). The diversity of life-form type, habitat preference and phenology of the endemics in the Goa region of the Western Ghats, India. Journal of Biogeography 31: 1227–1237.

Kambale, S.S., A.N. Chandore & S.R. Yadav (2012). Ceropegia concanensis, a new species (Apocynaceae: Ceropegieae) from Western Ghats, India. Kew Bulletin 67: 843–848.

Kiran Raj, M.S. & M. Sivadasan (2008). A New Species of Dimeria (Poaceae, Panicoideae, Andropogoneae) from Goa, India. Novon 18(2): 183–186.

Lekhak, M.M. & S.R. Yadav (2012). Herbaceous vegetation of threatened high altitude lateritic plateau ecosystems of Western Ghats, Southwestern Maharashtra, India. Rheedea 22(1): 39–61.

Madhusoodanan, P.V. & N.P. Singh (1992). A new species of Lepidagathis (Acanthaceae) from South India. Kew Bulletin 47(2): 301–303.

Malpure N.V. & S.R. Yadav (2009). Chlorophytum gothanense, a new species of Anthericaceae from the Western Ghats of India. Kew Bulletin 64: 739–741.

Muller, J.V. (2007). Herbaceous vegetation of seasonally wet habitats on inselbergs and lateritic crusts in West and Central Africa. Folia Geobotanica 42(1): 29–61.

Muraleedharan, P. (2011). Midland Laterite Hill Degradation in Kannur District, Kerala, pp. 119–124. In: Joseph, S.K. & B. Mahodaya (eds.). Gandhi, Environment and Sustainable Future. Institute of Gandhian Studies, Wardha, iv+247pp.

Nair, V.J., P.V. Sreekumar & N.C. Nair (1983). Arundinella cannanorica- a new species of Poaceae from Kerala. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society 80: 396–398.

Nandikar, M. & R.V. Gurav (2011). A New Species of Murdannia Royle (Commelinaceae) from Northern Western Ghats of India. Taiwania 56(3): 227–230.

Nayar, M.P. (1996). Hot Spots of endemic plants of India, Nepal and Bhutan. TBGRI, Thiruvananthapuram.

Porembski, S. & A. Watve (2005). Remarks on the species composition of ephemeral flush communities on paleotropical rock outcrops. Phytocoenologia 35(2–3): 389–402.

Potdar, G.G. & S.R. Yadav (2012). A new species and a new variety of Glyphochloa (Poaceae) from the Western Ghats of India. Kew Bulletin 66(4): 625–628.

Potdar, G.G., S.P. Gaikwad, C.B. Salunkhe & S.R. Yadav (2004). A new species of Mnesithea Kunth (Poaceae) from India. Kew Bulletin 59: 629–631.

Prabhugaonkar, A., U.S. Yadav & M.K. Janarthanam (2009). Dipcadi goaense (Hyacinthaceae), a new species from the foothills of the Western Ghats, India. Kew Bulletin 64: 743–746.

Pradeep, A.K. & C. Pramod (2013). Parasopubia hofmannii Pradeep & Pramod and Parasopubia hofmannii var. albiflora Pradeep & Pramod (Orobanchaceae), two new taxa from India. Candollea 68(1): 115–122. https://doi.org/10.15553/c2013v681a16

 Pradeep, A.K. & V.V. Sivarajan (1991). Justicia ekakusuma, a new species of Acanthaceae from Peninsular India. Rheedea 1(1&2): 40–43.

Pradeep, A.K., K.T. Joseph & V.V. Sivarajan (1990). Rotala malabarica, a new species of Lythraceae from India. Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica 31: 59–61.

Pramod, C. (2015). Floristic and Ecological Studies on Madayippara Lateritic Plateau of Northern Kerala. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Calicut.

Pramod, C., A.K. Pradeep & J.F. Veldkamp (2012). Coelachne madayensis (Poaceae: Pooideae: Isachneae), a new species from Kerala, India. Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 64(2): 289–292.

Prasad, K.S. & K. Raveendran (2013a). A New Species of Rotala L. (Lythraceae) from Kerala, India. Taiwania 58(2): 104–107. https://doi.org/10.6165/tai.2013.58.104

Prasad, K.S. & K. Raveendran (2013b). Rotala kasaragodensis (Lythraceae), a new species from Kerala, India. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 70(3): 451–454. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0960428613000140

Prasad, K.S., P. Biju, K. Raveendran & K.G. Bhat (2012). Rotala tulunadensis sp. nov. (Lythraceae) from Kerala, India. Nordic Journal of Botany 30: 58–60. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.2011.01275.x

Prasad, M.G. & Sunojkumar P. (2014). A New species of Lindernia (Linderniaceae) from India. Phytotaxa 307(4): 245–253. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.162.1.6

Raju, V.S. (1985). A new name for an Indian Euphorbia. Taxon 34(3): 519–520.

Ramachandran V.S. & V.J. Nair (1988). Flora of Cannanore District. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, 557pp.

Rashmi, K. & G. Krishnakumar (2013). Eriocaulon gopalakrishnanum sp. nov. (Eriocaulaceae) from the Western Ghats, India. Nordic Journal of Botany 30: 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.2012.00030.x

Sasidharan, N. (2004). Biodiversity documentation for Kerala. Part 6. Flowering Plants. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur.

Shahina, P.M. & S. Nampy (2014). A taxonomic revision of the genus Canscora in South India, and the erection of the new genus Canscorinella (Canscorinae, Gentianaceae) with two new combinations. Phytotaxa 164(4): 201–225. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.164.4.1

Shimpale, V.B. & S.R. Yadav (2010). Eriocaulon belgaumensis: a new species of Eriocaulaceae from the Western Ghats of India. Kew Bulletin 65: 337–339. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-010-9204-5

Sunil, C.N., M.K. Ratheesh Narayanan, M. Sivadasan, V.V. Naveenkumar, A.H. Alfarhan, V.A. Jaleel & M.H. Sameh (2016). A new species of Fimbristylis (Cyperaceae) from India. Botany Letters 164 (1): 19–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/23818107.2016.1244776   

Sunil, C.N., M.K. Narayanan, M. Sivadasan, T. Shaju, V.V.N. Kumar & A.H. Alfarhan (2017). A new species of Chrysopogon (Poaceae: Andropogoneae) from India. Phytotaxa 307(4): 245–253. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.307.4.2

Swapna, M.M., K.P. Rajesh, C.N. Manju & R. Prakashkumar (2012). Eriocaulon madayiparense (Eriocaulaceae) – A new species from the foot hills of the Western Ghats of India. Phytokeys 10: 19–23.

Varghese, T. & G. Byju (1993). Laterite soils. Technical Monograph No. 1. State Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, Government of Kerala.

Watve, A. (2013). Status review of Rocky plateaus in the Northern Western Ghats and Konkan region of Maharashtra, India with recommendations for conservation and management. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(5): 3935–3962. https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3372.3935-62

Watve, A. & S. Thakur (2006). Ecological Studies of Lateritic Plateau Habitats in Northern Western Ghats, pp. 22–28. In: Pandey, H.N. & S.K. Barik (eds.), Ecology, Diversity and Conservation of Plants and Ecosystems in India. Regency Publications, New Delhi.

Yadav, S.R. & M.K. Janarthanam (1994). Hydatellaceae: a new family to Indian flora with a new species. Rheedea 4(1): 17–20.

Yadav, S.R., V.M. Nilesh & A.N. Chandore (2010). Rotala belgaumensis sp. nov. (Lythraceae) from Western Ghats, India. Nordic Journal of Botany 28: 499-500. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.2009.00612.x

Yadav, S.R., G.G. Potdar, A. Kumar, A.M. Otaghvari & A. Sonkar (2008). Eriocaulon epedunculatum, a new species of Eriocaulaceae from the Western Ghats, India. Kew Bulletin 63: 503–505. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-008-9041-y

Yadav, S.R., M. M. Lekhak & A.N. Chandore (2009). A new species of Eleocharis (Cyperaceae) from Western Ghats, India. Rheedea 19(1&2): 37–40.