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Rare plant discovered close to Ananthapura lake temple in Kasaragod and therefore named ‘Lepidagathis ananthapuramensis’
A staff of researchers have reported a brand new species of perennial woody herb of the genus Lepidagathis from the northern laterite plateaus of Kasaragod district within the State.
Since this uncommon plant was spotted within the neighbourhood of the Ananthapura lake temple, it has been named ‘Lepidagathis ananthapuramensis’ after the famed temple devoted to Ananthapadmanabha.
An article on the invention authored by P. Biju of Government College, Kasaragod; V.S. Anil Kumar and S. Arya of University College, Thiruvananthapuram; E.J. Josekutty, Government Brennen College, Thalassery; and Jomy Augustine, St Thomas College, Pala; has been printed within the newest version of Phytotaxa, a journal on plant taxonomy.
The plant was spotted throughout discipline explorations within the area, V.S. Anil Kumar mentioned. With its discovery, the variety of species of the genus Lepidagathis (household Acanthaceae) present in India has risen to 34. “Plants of this species are locally called ‘Paramullu’. As far as we know, Lepidagathis ananthapuramensis is endemic to the region,” he mentioned.
To date, eight species of the genus Lepidagathis and three varieties have been reported from Kerala, of which 4 are endemic to the Western Ghats.
Lepidagathis ananthapuramensis is carefully associated to Lepidagathis keralensis reported from Madayippura in Kannur district. Detailed research have established the previous as a hitherto undescribed species, he mentioned.
An erect woody herb that grows to a peak of 50-100 cm, Lepidagathis ananthapuramensis is characterised by a bushy and branched stem, thick and woody rootstock, bushy leaf veins, and flowers clustered on one facet of the inflorescence.
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