Keralam researchers discover a new species of genus Begonia in Western Ghats
Researchers from the JNTBGRI have discovered a new plant species, Begonia rajvikramanii, in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India. The plant was found on wet rocky cliffs and is morphologically distinct from other known Begonia species.
Why it matters
The discovery adds to the biodiversity documentation of the Western Ghats, a region currently under scrutiny for its ecologically sensitive status.
Researchers have identified a new species of the genus Begonia from the Western Ghats region in Keralam’s Kollam district.
A research team of the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) in Thiruvananthapuram spotted the plant during an exploration for collecting wild ornamental plants from the evergreen forests of Rosemala in Kollam. The discovery has been reported at a time when the ghats region is back in the news in connection with the Keralam government’s recommendations regarding Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA).
On identifying it as a distinct species, they named it Begonia rajvikramanii after R. Raj Vikraman, former Head of the Garden Management Division, JNTBGRI, in recognition of his contributions to the development of the JNTBGRI garden and the management of ex situ plant conservation programmes at the institute, which functions under the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE).
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