Rare plant species Chlorophytum palghatense found in Palakkad district of Kerala

The Scientists at the Centre for Medicinal Plants Research, Kottakkal in Kerala discovered a rare plant species named Chlorophytum palghatense at the Dhoni hills in Palakkad district of Kerala. The findings were published in the journal Phytotaxa on 17 December 2014.

The researchers led by scientist Konickal Mambetta Prabhu Kumar came across this new species in the grasslands of the Palamala hills in the Dhoni mountain range during an expedition to study the floristic diversity of the high mountains in the southern regions of the Western Ghats.

Besides, another team of scientists from the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi also found the this species of plant in the Elival hills of Muthikulam in Palakkad.

About Chlorophytum palghatense
• The plant belongs to the genus Chlorophytum of the Asparagaceae family. The Chlorophytum genus is represented by 17 species in India, of which 15 occur in the Western Ghats.
• It was named Chlorophytum palghatense after the place of discovery- Palakkad district of Kerala.
• The plant is a perennial herb endemic to the grassland ecosystem of the Dhoni and Muthikulam forests at a height above 6000 feet.
• The plant flowers and fruits from September to November.
• The plant shows affinities with C. sharmae that is widespread in Munnar, but shows many morphological differences.