Two endangered plant species spotted

Environment and Ecology Biodiversity

Two critically endangered impatiens plant species are spotted on the peripheries of the Eravikulam National Park.
The newly discovered species include- Impatiens Mankulamensis and Impatiens Panduramgani.
They are included in the critically endangered category of IUCN.
Impatiens, also called jewel weeds, are seen in pristine forests where moisture content and relative humidity are high.
The Eravikulam National Park and the Mankulam forest division are surrounded by sholas.
The plant normally flowers in the rainy season of July to October. The flowers are white in colour with a pink border.

About Eravikulam National Park:

Eravikulam national park is spread over an extensive area of 97 sq km along the crest of Western Ghats in the high ranges of Idukki district.
Most of the areas of the national park are consistent hill plateau.
The highest peak is Anamudi (2690m). The forests are commonly known as ‘shoals’ – evergreen tropical and sub tropical moist broadleaf forest.
Lakkom waterfalls are located in this region.
In 1975 Eravikulam was declared as a wildlife sanctuary and then in 1978 it was given the status of a National park. The main motive behind this was to protect the rare Nilgiri Tahr and Hemitragus Hylocrious, which are common here. But now the park is home to numerous protected species of flora and fauna.
The national park is divided into three areas - the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area. In which, the Rajamalai is known to be the tourism area of the park.
Apart from Nilgiri Tahr, one can find around 26 different species of mammals at this park. A number of elephants, langur and marten can be found here. About 120 species of birds like black and ornage flycatcher, Nilgiri pipit, Nilgiri wood pigeon, white bellied shortwing and Kerala laughing thrush can be spotted at Eravikulam National Park.

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