New plant species ‘Tylophora Balakrishnanii’ discovered from Western Ghats

New species of plant has been discovered from the shola forest in the western ghats of Wayanad. The plant was discovered after five years of observation. The plant was named after Dr V Balakrishnan, a DySP – with Kerala police and a member of Kerala State Biodiversity Board, who had served as the former head of MS Swaminathan Research Foundation – Wayanad.

Tylophora Balakrishnanii is morphologically most similar to Tylophora Flexuosa which is seen in places with lakes. It has flowers with pink and reddish colors. Besides Balakrishnanaii, another plant called ‘Tylophora Neglecta’ was also discovered by the scientists at Thoovalmala in Kollam. The plant with white and pink flowers was discovered by scientists from MS Swaminathan Research Foundation P M Salim, Jayesh P Joseph, M M Jithin, Dr Jose Mathew of Sanathana Dharma college, Alappuzha and Dr Reji Yohannan of Kollam Sree Narayana College.

Both plants were included in the list of endangered plants which need preservation. The study was published in the International Journal of Environment.