In News:

Researchers have confirmed the discovery of a new flowering plant species named Uniyalakeralensis (family: Asteraceae) in the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve (ABR), located in the southern Western Ghats of Kerala. Endemic to southwest India, the species is named in honour of the state of Kerala.

Key Features:

• Plant Type: Dense shrub with light purple flowers, growing 1–3 metres tall.
• Distinctive Traits: Larger leaves, longer petioles (leaf stalks), and fewer lateral veins compared to related species like U. comorinensis and U. salviifolia.
• Flowering & Fruiting Period: August to April.
• Habitat: Open areas on western mountain slopes of ABR, at elevations between 700–1,400 metres.
• Distribution: Around 5,000 individuals across four subpopulations, covering an estimated area of 250 km².
• IUCN Status (2024): Data Deficient (DD) due to limited information on long-term population trends.

The plant was first collected in 1998 and initially misidentified as Vernonia multibracteata. Later taxonomic revisions led to the recognition of Uniyala as a separate genus, named after botanist B.P. Uniyal, with this species formally described as new.

About Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve (ABR):

• Location: Spans parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the southern Western Ghats.
• UNESCO Status: Recognized under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme in 2016.
• Biodiversity Highlights: Home to over 2,254 higher plant species, including 405 endemics; key fauna includesNilgiriTahr, Lion-tailed Macaque, Bengal Tiger, and Indian Elephant.
• Indigenous Communities: Inhabited by the Kani tribes in both states.