New Plant Species 'Emblica chakrabartyi' Found in Kerala Forests

Tags: Environment

A new plant species, 'Emblica chakrabartyi,' has been unearthed by a team of scientists in Kerala, specifically from Adichilthotti within the Edamalayar forest range.

An Overview of the News

• This newly discovered species is dedicated to Tapas Chakrabarty, a former scientist at the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), in recognition of his contributions to the study of Phyllanthaceae

Characteristics of Emblica chakrabartyi:

• Taxonomy: Belongs to the gooseberry (Phyllanthaceae) family and thrives as shrubs in tropical rainforests.

• Global Presence: 55 species of the genus Emblica worldwide, with this species being the 11th from India.

Distinctive Features:

• Size: Grows to approximately 2 meters in height.

• Leaves: Large, shiny, elongated oval leaves reaching up to 13 cm in length.

• Flowers: Yellowish green with six petals. Flowering and fruiting occur from December to June. Male flowers are found in inflorescence, while female flowers are solitary, located on the leaf axils.

• Fruits: Brown to black when ripe, with seeds measuring about 8-9 mm in diameter.

Expedition Details:

• Research Project: Conducted as part of a University Grants Commission (UGC) sponsored research project.

• Population: A population of approximately 55 plants was discovered during the expedition.

About Kerala

• Capital - Thiruvananthapuram

• Chief minister - Pinarayi Vijayan

• Districts - 14

• Rajya Sabha    - 9 seats

• Lok Sabha - 20 seats

• Symbols of Kerala:-

  • Bird - Great hornbill

  • Flower - Golden shower tree

  • Fruit - Jackfruit

  • Mammal - Indian elephant

  • Tree - Coconut Tree