Many Many Congratulations for the team for this great work On Fri, Jul 6, 2012 at 11:07 AM, jmgarg1 <[email protected]> wrote:
> Forwarding pl. > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Marimuthu <[email protected]> > Date: 5 July 2012 11:32 > Subject: Researchers rediscover rare plant species > > > Researchers rediscover rare plant species** > > PUNE: Researchers from several institutes, including the Agharkar Research > Institute here, have rediscovered a rare endangered plant species, > 'spiderwort', after a gap of 161 years. They stumbled upon the rare plant > species during a study to assess the floristic diversity of Chandoli > national park in the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, which was > recently declared a world heritage site by Unesco. > > After its collection in 1851 from Parva Ghat in the state, the species was > not found anywhere else in the state and was considered extinct. > > * The discovery, which has been published as a research paper in the Journal > of Threatened Taxa, was made jointly by Shrinath Kavade, professor, Art, > Commerce and Science College, Lanja in Ratnagiri; Subhash Deokule, > University of Pune; P Lakshminarasimhan, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah; > Prakash Diwekar, Botanical Survey of India, Western Regional Centre, Pune; > and Sachin Punekar of Agharkar Research Institute. Punekar is attached to > the city-based non-governmental organization, Biosphere.* > > Kavade said, "The species is called Belosynapsis vivipara, which was found > along the backwaters of Warana river across Sahyadri range. The genus > Belosynapsis is represented by five species distributed from South > Asia<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/South-Asia>to New Guinea. In > India, however, it is represented by three species, > namely, B epiphytica, B kewensis and B vivipara." > > Punekar said, "The specimens found in 1851 were from Parva Ghat, which > lies at the junction of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka, while the latest > discovery was in the northern-most extension of the northern Western Ghats > of Maharashtra. The distance between the two points is sizable and a > thorough study of the area lying in between could further lead to similar > discoveries, which will go a long way in conserving this threatened plant > species." > > The recent study found about 100 such plants growing on large tree trunks > in the riparian forest patches of Male and Patharpunj villages in Chandoli > national park, which forms the northern-most distribution of this > vulnerable species. The plants usually grow at a higher elevation, on > densely moss covered tree trunks and branches of trees in shady, > semi-evergreen riparian forests. > > "This species is on the verge of extinction and is equally important to > biodiversity. Thus, before declaring any area as protected, certain species > of the flora and fauna should be given due importance. Also, total > protection should be given to the riparian forest areas of Chandoli > national park for conservation of this vulnerable and endemic species. > Ex-situ conservation and domestication of the species in greenhouses and > gardens for future survival, besides its re-introduction in wild and > similar habitats is imperative," Punekar said. > > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Researchers-rediscover-rare-plant-species/articleshow/14683250.cms > > ** > > > > -- > With regards, > J.M.Garg > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 > 'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna' > The whole world uses my Image Resource of more than a *thousand species*& > eight thousand images of Birds, Butterflies, Plants etc. (arranged > alphabetically & place-wise): > http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:J.M.Garg. You can also use > them for free as per Creative Commons license attached with each image. > For identification, learning, discussion & documentation of Indian Flora, > please visit/ join our Efloraofindia Google e-group: > http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix (more than 1900 members & > 1,20,700 messages on 30/6/12) or Efloraofindia website: > https://sites.google.com/site/efloraofindia/ (with a species database > of more than 7000 species). > Also author of 'A Photoguide to the Birds of Kolkata & Common Birds of > India'. > > -- Regards Dr Balkar Singh Head, Deptt. of Botany and Biotechnology Arya P G College, Panipat Haryana-132103 09416262964
