kerala tops in new plant discoveries

Kerala tops in new plant discoveries

In a boost for end uses like food, traditional drug, cosmetic drugs and fibres, Indian scientist have discovered more than 300 species of plants, fungi and microbes from across the country in 2016, stated the latest report of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI)

          In the ‘Plant Discoveries 2016, God’s own country Kerala has once again proved  why its vegetation is a national treasure. the state has topped the list by giving 35 new  plant discoveries to botanists as part of a nation wide annual survey.

          Andhra Pradesh followed Kerala with 18 new seed plant discoveries and Tamilnadu with 17.

          The minimum discoveries were made from Manipur, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Telangana represented by only one species each.

          Minister of environment, forest and climate change (Moefcc) Harsh Vardhan congratulated  the scientists and said the discovery of plants like wild cardamom, wild ginger and wild ‘amala’ among others, is likely to open new areas of research and commercial application.

          “Documenting, sustainable utilization and conservation of these species is one of the major thrust areas of this ministry,” said Mr.Vardhan.’

          Last year’s discoveries including 128 seed plants 20 bryophytes 32 lichens 26 algae, 62 fungi and 50 mictobes, are either new to science or have been found in an Indian region where they were not known to exist earlier, according to ‘Plant Discoveries  2016’, compilation of BSI, a research organisation of the Moefcc.