Vol. 34(2): 87–117 (2024)
ISSN: 0971-2313 (P in edi ion)
ISSN: 2582-2438 (Online edi ion)
h ps://dx.doi.o g/10.22244/ heedea.2024.34.02.02
A Checklis o S enoendemic Angiospe ms o Tamil Nadu
Ni haniyal S.1*, I win S.J.2 & Na asimhan D.3
1Bo anical Su ey o India (BSI), Wes e n Regional Cen e (WRC), Ko egaon Road, Pune, Maha ash a – 411001, India
2No. 76/1, A ul Ga den, Sunda apu am, Coimba o e, Tamil Nadu – 641 024, India
3Associa e P o esso (Re d.), Depa men o Bo any, Mad as Ch is ian College (Au onomous), Chennai – 600059, India
*E-mail: [email p o ec ed].in
Abs ac : In en o y o endemic species is spa se in he
coun y and lacks s a e-wise assessmen and na ionwide
compila ion. He e, we epo a comp ehensi e eco d
o he s enoendemic angiospe ms o Tamil Nadu
and highligh he p io i y a eas o conse a ion. A
c i ical pe usal o exis ing li e a u e poin s ou ha 272
endemic axa belonging o 138 gene a ep esen ing 59
amilies and en di e se clades o APG IV. Maximum
numbe s o endemic axa a e om Cype aceae and he
genus Impa iens. Endemic plan s a e concen a ed in he
lo is ically ich Wes e n Gha s o Tamil Nadu, co e ing
he a eas o Ti unel eli, Nilgi is, and Coimba o e
dis ic s. The ege a ion g adien occu ing a he
Wes e n Gha s hill slopes o Tamil Nadu is a home o
many cen es o endemism ha p o ide a mic o-habi a
o specia ion. Ou o 272 endemic axa epo ed, 71 o
hem a e classi ied unde he IUCN h ea ened ca ego y,
ha include C i ically Endange ed (33), Endange ed (32),
Vulne able (5) and Ex inc (1), ep esen ing axa ha
demand a high p io i y o conse a ion. E alua ion o
conse a ion s a us based on IUCN Red Lis Ca ego ies
and C i e ia showed ha endemic axa in mic o-endemic
cen es o Tamil Nadu is acing a high isk o ex inc ion
due o he decline in popula ion size, a ea o dis ibu ion,
habi a agmen a ion, and an h opogenic p essu es.
The e o e, he cu en s udy on he in en o y o
endemic species will be help ul o implemen app op ia e
conse a ion s a egies.
Keywo ds: Endemics, Wes e n Gha s, Mic o Habi a ,
Th ea ened Species, Conse a ion
In oduc ion
Despi e a emp s o hal he ex inc ion c isis,
biodi e si y loss due o an h opogenic p essu e
has inc eased wo ldwide (Ca dinale e al., 2012).
The e o e, an in en o y o lo al di e si y o
de elop conse a ion s a egies is essen ial o
achie e he a ge s o he Kunming-Mon eal
Global biodi e si y amewo k as en isioned by
he Con en ion on Biological Di e si y. Endemic
species a e unique o a si e o es ic ed a ea,
bio ope, biogeog aphical egion, o a poli ical
bounda y based on he spa ial dis ibu ion pa e n
(Da u e al., 2020). Endemic di e si y explo a ion
is he e o e, necessa y in mega-di e si y coun ies
wi h excep ionally high species ichness. The e ms
“paleoendemic” and “neoendemic” a e used o
classi y endemics based on e olu iona y cha ac e s
and his o ical biogeog aphy. Paleoendemics
a e cha ac e ized by woody habi , low le el o
polyploidy, and usually o m mono ypic gene a
o amilies wi h a disjunc dis ibu ion as
e idenced in ossil eco ds (S ebbins & Majo ,
1965; K uckebe g & Rabinowi z, 1985). Whe eas
neoendemics a e cha ac e ized by he baceous o
sh ubby habi s ha ing a high le el o polyploidy
ha belong o poly ypic gene a and o m a species
complex wi h no clea axonomic bounda ies and
ela ed axa occu ing in he same o adjacen
egion (K uckebe g, 2002; López-Pujol e al.,
2011). Endemism also inc eases wi h he inc ease
in size o a homogenous biogeog aphical a ea wi h
Recei ed: 18.08.2023; Re ised & Accep ed: 05.06.2024
Published Online: 30.06.2024
Rheedea
Jou nal o he Indian Associa ion o Angiospe m Taxonomy
RESEARCH ARTICLE
88
A Checklis o S enoendemic Angiospe ms o Tamil Nadu
he same lo is ic his o y and ecological condi ions
(Peñas e al., 2005).
S enoendemic o local endemic species
s and as he biological capi al o he coun y,
e lec ing he unique species ichness (Naya ,
1996). India, a mega-di e si y coun y,
comp ises 22,108 angiospe m species,
including 4036 endemic species dis ibu ed in he
12 biogeog aphical p o inces, i e biomes, and
h ee bio egion domains (Singh e al., 2015; Mao
e al., 2022). Endemism is concen a ed in he
lo is ically ich mega cen es, namely Eas e n
Himalayas, Wes e n Gha s, No h-eas e n India,
and Andaman and he Nicoba Islands. These
biodi e si y ho spo s exhibi unique endemic
species di e si y bu also expe ience habi a loss
ha esul ed in many species being included unde
he h ea ened ca ego y by IUCN (Ma chese,
2015).
The s a e o Tamil Nadu occu s in he sou he nmos
pa o he Indian peninsula and has ich
angiospe m di e si y due o he a ied ege a ion
ypes. This egion suppo s an a ay o habi a s
such as o es s, g asslands, we lands, and coas al
plains wi h unique endemic species di e si y. The
Hill anges o he Wes e n Gha s a e conside ed
as a majo cen e o endemism in Tamil Nadu
(Na asimhan & I win, 2021). The Wes e n Gha s
ha bo mos o he angiospe ms desc ibed in
India, and he Agas hyamalai Range alone includes
mo e han 50% o he species (Mehe -Homji &
Pascal, 1996). Howe e , in ecen decades, human
accele a ed habi a agmen a ion has inc eased
he species’ ex inc ion a e in hei na u al habi a s.
Ag icul u e, monocul u e p ac ices, hyd oelec ic
p ojec s, and clima e change a e he causes o he
ex inc ion o endemics (Da ida e al., 2007).
The knowledge on he phy odi e si y and
phy ogeog aphy a e essen ial o implemen ing
conse a ion s a egies. The e o e, his s udy
ocuses on he in en o y o endemic species o
acili a e he conse a ion measu es o species
and gene ic di e si y om ex inc ion. Resea che s
om all o e he wo ld a e u ilizing he IUCN
amewo k in biodi e si y s udies o es ablish
conse a ion me hodologies o s uc u ing
policies owa ds he conse a ion o species
h ough mul ila e al ag eemen s, as well as o
p io i ize species o conse a ion (Be s e al.,
2020). Ne e heless, he e a e se e al sho alls
o da a de iciencies abou species axonomy,
dis ibu ions, abundance, e olu iona y pa e ns,
abio ic ole ances o species, bio ic in e ac ions,
and limi ed unde s anding o species ai s
ha hinde he biodi e si y s udies (B own &
Lomolino, 1998; Lomolino, 2004; Ca doso e al.,
2011; Diniz-Filhom e al., 2013; Ho al e al., 2015).
Recen s udies also highligh ed he sho alls o
species dis ibu ion, iden i ica ion, e olu ion,
and dynamics du ing he biodi e si y assessmen s
(Shal ou & Bedai 2021; Shal ou & Bedai 2023).
Assessmen s udies in India epo ed ha 2,142
ou o 18,532 axa a e ed-lis ed unde he
ca ego y o h ea ened (432 axa), nea h ea ened
(52 axa), and ex inc (8) (IUCN, 2024, Gow hami
e al., 2021). Di e si y analysis o na ow endemic
angiospe ms in di e en s a es o India showed
ha he highes axa we e epo ed in Tamil
Nadu (410 axa), ollowed by Ke ala (357 axa)
and Maha ash a (278 axa) (Singh e al., 2015).
Likewise, assessmen s udies o endemic axa we e
a emp ed in di e en egions o Sou he n India
(Daniels e al., 1995; Na ayanasamy & Na esan,
2020). Fo ins ance, he Conse a ion Assessmen
and Managemen P io i iza ion (CAMP)
assessmen on medicinal plan s has lis ed 256
axa, 36 o which we e designa ed as endange ed
(Molu e al., 1995). A s udy by Ramesh and
Pascal (1997) e ealed ha 70% o endemic ees
a e home o Agas hyamalai highlands. Ano he
esea ch on de eloping he Da abase on Endemic
and ed-lis ed species in Agas hyamalai Biosphe e
Rese e epo ed 126 ou o 2270 axa we e
endemic (Na asimhan & I win, 2017). Howe e ,
a consolida ed epo o endemic and ed-lis ed
species axa o Tamil Nadu is no a ailable, and
i is no easy o access da a om a ious sou ces.
89
Ni haniyal e al.
The e o e, a comp ehensi e su ey o endemics
was unde aken using exis ing li e a u e and
o he ield eco ds. This s udy epo s 272
s enoendemics in Tamil Nadu o which 71 axa
we e ed-lis ed by IUCN. The cu en s udy aims
o (i) ca alogue he s enoendemic angiospe ms o
Tamil Nadu, (ii) iden i y he a eas o endemism in
Tamil Nadu, wi h pa icula e e ence o Wes e n
Gha s, (iii) imp o e he unde s anding o he
phy ogeog aphic pa e n o endemism, and (i )
disco e y and edisco e y o endemics in Tamil
Nadu.
Ma e ials and Me hods
S udy A ea
Tamil Nadu, he sou he nmos s a e o he Indian
peninsula, is sp ead o e a 1,30,058 km2 landmass,
accoun ing o abou 4% o he coun y’s o al a ea.
The s a e lies be ween 8° 5’ – 13° 35’ N la i ude
and 76° 14’ – 80° 21’ E longi ude wi h an ele a ion
anging om sea le el o 2637 MSL (Fig. 1).
The Bay o Bengal bounds he s a e o he eas ,
he Indian Ocean o he sou h, and he A abian
Sea o he sou hwes and he s a e o Ke ala o
he wes , Ka na aka o he no hwes , Andh a
P adesh o he no h, and pa s o Puduche y, a
Union Te i o y, along he eas -cen al coas (Fig.
1). The s a e is adminis a i ely subdi ided in o
38 dis ic s. Topog aphically, he s a e is di ided
in o he Wes e n Gha s, Eas e n Gha s, Cen al
Pla eau, and Coas al Plains. Rain all a ies om
900 mm o 3000 mm, and i bene i s om bo h
sou hwes and no heas monsoons. The s a e
gene ally enjoys a humid opical clima e and has
a ied opog aphy and habi a s. A ecen s udy by
he Fo es Su ey o India (2021) epo ed ha
Tamil Nadu has a o es co e o abou 26,419
Km2 ha cons i u es 20.31% o he s a e’s o al
geog aphical a ea, and is anked nin h in he
coun y. Much o he o es is open, whe eas e y
dense and mode a ely dense accoun o abou
11% o he o al o es a ea. Mo e han 80% o he
Fig. 1
. Dis ibu ion o mic o-endemic cen es o Tamil Nadu. Map d awn wi h QGIS Fi enze .3.28.0 (QGIS de elopmen eam, 2024).
90
A Checklis o S enoendemic Angiospe ms o Tamil Nadu
Fig. 2
.
Some o he endemic and h ea ened axa o Tamil Nadu. a. Phyllan hus singampa ianus (Sebas . & A.N. Hen y) Kuma i & Chand ab.;
b. Hube an ha senjiana (R. Mu al., D.Na as. & N.Balach.) R.Mu al., D.Na as. & N.Balach.; c. P emna mundan hu aiensis Rajend an & P.Daniel;
d. Ba le ia du ai ajii K. Ra ik., D.Na as., De ana h. & Gnanasek.; e. Hedyo is ajaseka anii Ka upp. & V.Ra ich.; . Hedyo is she yi K.Ra ik. & V. Lakshm.;
g. Memecylon manickamii Mu ugan, Sunda esan & Jo hi; h. Sone ila pa ameswa anii K.Ra ik. & V. Lakshm.; i. Eugenia megamalayana Mu ugan &
A um.; j. Impa iens megamalayana Ramas.; k. I. la escens Ka upp. & V. Ra ich.; l. Calophyllum pascalianum B.R.Ramesh, Ayyappan & De F anceschi.
91
Ni haniyal e al.
o al o es co e is dis ibu ed be ween 0 – 1000
m al i ude (Na asimhan & I win, 2021; FSI, 2021).
Me hods
Flo as, esea ch a icles, epo s, and books
we e e e ed o he checklis p epa a ion o
s enoendemics angiospe ms o Tamil Nadu (Hooke ,
1872-1897; Gamble, 1915-1936; Ahmedullah &
Naya , 1986; Naya and Sas y 1987-1990; Hen y e
al., 1987; Hen y e al., 1989; Ahmedullah, 2000;
Kameswa a e al., 2003; Naya e al., 2014; Singh
e al., 2015; Na asimhan and I win 2017; Mao &
Dash, 2020; Dash & Mao, 2020; Na asimhan &
I win, 2021). Type in o ma ion o each axon
was collec ed om published li e a u e o he 19 h,
20 h and 21s cen u ies. Nomencla u e o bo anical
names was con i med by he Plan s o he Wo ld
Online (POWO) (h ps://powo.science.kew.
o g/) and Wo ld Flo a Online (h p://www.
wo ld lo aonline.o g/) da abases. The checklis
on s enoendemics o Tamil Nadu was based on
APG IV classi ica ion (Table 1) (APG, 2016). The
conse a ion s a us o each axon was ob ained
using he IUCN Red Lis o Th ea ened Species
da abase (h ps://www.iucn edlis .o g/), he
CAMP assessmen using axon da a shee (Molu
e al., 1995; Gopalan and Hen y 2000) and o he
epo s based on he exis ing da abase and ield
eco ds.
Resul s and Discussion
1. S enoendemic angiospe ms o Tamil Nadu
The cu en s udy eco ds 272 endemic axa
belonging o 138 gene a om 59 amilies and
en di e se clades o APG IV (Fig. 2). Clade-wise
dis ibu ion o endemics indica es ha 70% o
axa a e om Co e Eudico s, and he Monoco s
clade ep esen s 25% o axa. Eudico s ep esen
75% o he wo ld’s angiospe ms (app oxima ely
190,000 desc ibed species) as a la ge monophyle ic
assemblage (Simpson, 2010). Analysis o species-
ich amilies e eals ha he maximum endemic
axa a e om Cype aceae, ollowed by Poaceae
and Balsaminaceae wi h a leas 18 axa. Howe e ,
a he gene ic le el, Impa iens ops he lis wi h 18
axa, ollowed by Fimb is ylis and Ce opegia. Fi y-
eigh pe cen o endemic axa a e he baceous, ha
occu in di e se habi a s such as coas al plains,
g asslands, e e g een o es s, and deciduous
o es s. The o he li e o ms, such as sh ubs, ees,
liana, and climbe s, a e ep esen ed by 21%, 16%,
and 5%, espec i ely. Ea lie s udies ha e epo ed
ha endemic ees we e p edominan o e he bs
(Ganesh e al., 1996) and endemic sh ubs we e
dominan as compa ed o he ees (K ishnan
& Da ida , 1996). Howe e , he p esen esul s
show he dominance o he he baceous endemics
o e he ees, sh ubs, and climbe s, which
is compa able o he s udy conduc ed in he
No he n Wes e n Gha s and Konkan egions o
India (Joshi & Jana hanam, 2004; Gaikwad e al.,
2014). Habi a di e si y is i al in mic oe olu ion
as mo e han 50% a e he baceous axa, shel e ed
in speci ic mic ohabi a s including ock ou c ops
and g asslands. Speci ic conse a ion p og ams
o he baceous species a e challenging o
execu e; howe e , he gene pool o he baceous
axa a highe ele a ions is well-p ese ed by
mic ohabi a s.
2. A eas o endemism
Se e al endemic axa ha e been epo ed in he
Wes e n Gha s o Tamil Nadu in he las wo
decades, which calls o a en ion o conse a ion
(Sa alingam & Rajend an, 2016; A ya e al., 2021).
The e o e, egion-wise explo a ion is essen ial
o documen he spa io- empo al dis ibu ion
o endemics. In he cu en s udy, dis ic -wise
analysis showed ha 30% o endemic axa a e
ound o occu in Ti unel eli, ollowed by he
Nilgi is (21%) and Coimba o e (18%) dis ic s.
High endemic di e si y in he Wes e n Gha s o
Tamil Nadu occu s in he ou mic o endemic
cen e s, namely he Agas hyamala Biosphe e
Rese e, Palani Hills, Anamalai Hills, and Nilgi is-
Wayanad-Kodagu T i-junc ion (Naya , 1980).
Ou s udy e ealed ha nea ly 80% o endemic
axa we e ep esen ed wi hin he p o ec ed a eas
92
A Checklis o S enoendemic Angiospe ms o Tamil Nadu
such as Anamalai Tige Rese e, Kalakkad-
Mundan hu ai Tige Rese e, Megamalai Wildli e
Sanc ua y, Kanyakuma i Wildli e Sanc ua y,
Kodaikanal Wildli e Sanc ua y, Cou allum hills,
Mahend agi i Hills, and Velliangi i Hills (Fig.
1). These egions ep esen p io i ized loca ions
o he in-si u conse a ion o axa and egula
moni o ing o he gene pool in he na u al habi a .
The unique endemics a e much p onounced
in he Wes e n Gha s, which cap u e ace s o
biodi e si y no desc ibed elsewhe e (Joshi &
Ka an h, 2013). Abou 20% o endemic axa a e
om he Eas e n Gha s and he Coas al plains.
Regions like Kolli Hills, Kal ayan Hills, Jawadhu
Hills, Pachamalai Hills, Gingee Hills, and She a oy
Hills ep esen ed he a eas o mic o endemic
cen e s o conse a ion (Fig. 1). Species such as
Te as igma amilnadense N.Balach. & K.Ra ik.,
Zeuxine chowdhe yi A .Bha acha jee & Sabap.,
Commelina icolo E.Ba nes, and Fimb is ylis
mu hyi Ya ayya & Ra na Kuma occu in bo h
he Eas e n and Wes e n Gha s.
The opical ecosys em aces a high deg ee o
ex inc ion o endemic axa due o clima e change
and habi a loss (Kidane e al., 2019). Abou 26% o
endemic axa in Tamil Nadu a e classi ied unde
IUCN ed-lis ca ego ies ha include C i ically
Endange ed (33), Endange ed (32), Vulne able
(5) and Ex inc (1) (Table 2). Analysis o he ed-
lis ed h ea ened axa e ealed ha he amily
Melas oma aceae (10) holds mo e h ea ened
axa, ollowed by he amily Balsaminaceae (8),
Fabaceae (6), and Acan haceae (6). Th ea ened
species o en ace a high isk o ex inc ion due o a
decline in popula ion size and dis ibu ion, habi a
agmen a ion, and an h opogenic p essu es.
The e o e, implemen a ion o conse a ion
s a egies o Indian endemic species equi es an
unde s anding o species axonomy, phenology,
dis ibu ion, and iden i ica ion o p io i y a eas
ich in endemic axa. Fu he , by employing he
cu en bio echnological ools and app oaches, we
could be able o p ese e he gene ic pool o he
h ea ened endemic axa (Coelho e al., 2020).
3. Phy ogeog aphic pa e ns o endemism
High species ichness is one o he cha ac e is ic
ea u es o a humid opical ecosys em. The
opical Indian landscape has a he e ogeneous
clima ic his o y and opog aphy ha suppo s
ou global biodi e si y ho spo s om en
di e en phy ogeog aphic zones (Rodge s &
Panwa , 1988). The s a e o Tamil Nadu ha bo s
complex phy ogeog aphic egions like he Eas e n
Gha s and Wes e n Gha s. The Wes e n Gha s o
Tamil Nadu sus ain lineages o ancien opical
ege a ion ha we e once pa o Gondwanaland
and encoun e ed in ense olcanic ac i i y in he
la e C e aceous pe iod (P asad, 2009). E en ually,
he pe cen age o endemism is compa a i ely high
in he Wes e n Gha s as his egion is a ou ed
by ac o s like al i ude g adien , unique ain all
pa e n, and sho d y season leng h (Joshi &
Ka an h, 2013).
Ou analysis based on he endemics a al i ude
g adien showed ha he maximum numbe s
o axa a e om he high-ele a ion egions o
Tamil Nadu. Se en y pe cen o endemics a e
concen a ed in he high-ele a ion egions o he
Eas e n and Wes e n Gha s. Ou s udy indica ed
ha 187 axa a e con ined o high-ele a ion a eas
ep esen ing 48 amilies om 93 gene a and 26
o de s. The highes numbe o endemic axa is
om he monoco o de Poales ep esen ing 40
axa om 19 gene a and h ee amilies. The We
E e g een Fo es s suppo ed he highe numbe
o endemics, ollowed by he Mois Deciduous
Fo es s, Mon ane We Tempe a e Fo es s, and
Shola Fo es s. We also obse ed ha he al i ude
g adien in luences he ege a ion ypes in he
Agas hyamalai and he Nilgi is massi s ha hold
he unique ege a ion and p o ide mic ohabi a s
o he species. Ea lie s udies epo ed ha
he a eas o endemism a e associa ed wi h high
moun ain anges whe e he deg ee o endemici y
and ichness we e ela ed o opog aphic
complexi y and ele a ional ange (No oozi e al.,
2018; Ne leka e al., 2022). Conse a ion o such
93
Ni haniyal e al.
endemic species, especially in he Indian sa annah,
depends on unde s anding o es ecosys em
dynamics and phy ogeog aphic pa e ns (Ne leka
e al., 2022).
Clima ologically, he mid-ele a ional zone does
no exhibi e y ex eme cold empe a u es (Page
& Shanke , 2020). In he mid-ele a ion egion
(500-1000 msl), abou 39 endemic axa belonged
o 22 amilies om 15 gene a, and 14 o de s we e
iden i ied om he Eas e n Gha s and he Wes e n
Gha s o Tamil Nadu. I was domina ed by six
axa belonging o Gen ianales, i e om E icales,
and ou axa each om he o de s Aspa agales,
Lamiales, and Magnoliales. Vege a ion ha
suppo s include D y Deciduous Fo es s, Mois
Deciduous Fo es s, E e g een Fo es s, Semi-
E e g een Fo es s, Tho n Fo es s, and G asslands.
Simila ly, he lowland zone, including he coas al
egions and inland plains, consis s o ege a ion
like Deciduous Fo es s and D y o es s, which
holds 46 endemic axa belonging o 32 gene a om
18 amilies and ele en o de s. Domina ing o de s
a e Poales, Lamiales, and Fabales, ep esen ing
ele en, nine, and se en axa, espec i ely. Ea lie
s udies epo ed he la ges numbe o endemic
species om he pla eaus, ollowed by he mois
deciduous, semi-e e g een, and e e g een o es s
(Joshi & Jana hanam, 2004).
Based on he Moun ain Geo-biodi e si y
Hypo hesis, we can unde s and ha moun ain
o ma ion and upli men in luence he egional
geodi e si y pa e ns (Mosb ugge , 2018). The
Wes e n Gha s in Tamil Nadu also show unique
geodi e si y pa e ns in Agas hyamalai, Anamalai,
Palani Hills, Silen Valley, and he Nilgi is ange.
The highes peaks o Wes e n Gha s include
Doddabe a (2637 m) and Kola ibe a (2629 m),
loca ed in he Nilgi is and he Vanda a u Peak
(2553 m) in Palani Hills (Na asimhan & I win,
2021). These moun ain egions p o ide e ugia
o se e al endemics, which expe ienced an
inc eased chance o allopa ic specia ion due o
en i onmen al g adien ollowed by he ‘species-
pump’ e ec (Doebeli & Dieckmann, 2003). The
clima ic shi s in hese geog aphical egions lead
o low le els o change in species dis ibu ions
and may allow he su i al o ancien lineages ha
ha e become ex inc elsewhe e (Ha ison & Noss,
2017; Da u, 2020). Howe e , in he Eas e n Gha s,
egions such as Kal ayan Hill, Jawadhu Hills, Kolli
Hills, and Pachamalai a eas could ha e expe ienced
highe his o ic empe a u e changes and end o
ha bo ewe endemic species. Phylogene ically
de i ed species o en occupy highe al i ude in
he Eas e n Gha s, indica ing he ele a ion-d i en
isola ion o endemics. These obse a ions we e
compa able o ea lie s udies ha highligh ed
ha ele a ion-d i en isola ion had signi ican ly
shaped he pa e ns o endemic species ichness
(No oozi e al., 2018; Ne leka e al., 2022).
4. Disco e y and edisco e y o endemics o
Tamil Nadu
The Disco e y o new species is one o he p ime
in e es s o bo anical esea ch. Tamil Nadu s ands
in he op hi d in India’s Disco e y o new species
(Mao e al., 2022). Sys ema ic in es iga ion o
plan s p esumably s a ed du ing he 18 h cen u y
in Tamil Nadu. Nea ly nine een new axa we e
epo ed in he Mad as Jou nal o Li e a u e and
Science, Flo a o B i ish India, Icones Plan a um
Indiae O ien alis, and Jou nal o he Linnean
Socie y Bo any. These new axa we e conside ed
endemic o Tamil Nadu because hey we e no
epo ed elsewhe e since hen. The oldes endemic
species iden i ied was Semeca pus anaca dium a .
cunei olia in 1825 by A.P. de Candolle in P od omus
Sys ema is Na u alis Regni Vege abilis. In e es ingly,
h ee species o he 19 h cen u y ha we e
conside ed ex inc such as Koilodepas calycinum
Bedd., Ae a wigh ii Hook. ., and And og aphis
o hii C.B. Cla ke, we e edisco e ed a e 100
yea s.
Explo a ion in Tamil Nadu was mo e p e alen
du ing he 20 h cen u y. Ou o 272 axa ha we e
epo ed he e, abou 40% (108) we e disco e ed
du ing his pe iod om he Wes e n Gha s o
94
A Checklis o S enoendemic Angiospe ms o Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu, which we e no epo ed elsewhe e.
In he la e 1970s, abou nine een new axa om
Cype aceae we e epo ed by Go inda ajulu
in he P oceedings o he Indian Academy o
Sciences, Jou nal o he Bombay Na u al His o y
Socie y, and Rheedea ha emained as endemic
species. Repo s on edisco e y o 20 h-cen u y
axa such as Impa iens la ico nis C.E.C. Fisch.,
E ioch ysis angacha ii C.E.C. Fisch., Senecio
kundaicus C.E.C. Fisch., Be be is nilghi iensis
Ah end , Elaeoca pus blascoi Weibel, Dalbe gia
inne elliensis Tho h., And og aphis o undi olia
(S eem.) S eem., Indo is icha i unel eliana
Sha ma, Ka hik. & She y and Hip age naya ii
R.C. S i as ., highligh ed he in ensi e ield
s udies du ing ecen decades.
The lo is ic explo a ion was ema kable in he
las h ee decades o he 21s cen u y, and abou
145 new endemic axa we e iden i ied om
Tamil Nadu. Disco e y o new endemic species in
he 21s cen u y inc eased many olds compa ed
o he 19 h and 20 h cen u ies. The a ailabili y
o egional expe s, egula ield explo a ion,
unding esou ces, and e-communica ion a e
he p ima y easons o he inc easing pace o
species disco e y. This also indica es ha a lis o
endemics in a pa icula geog aphic egion may
a y om ime o ime and is inde inable. Recen
echnological ad ancemen s g ea ly suppo
axonomic explo a ion by p o iding quick access
o online da abases, bo anical li e a u e, and
esou ces, including ype specimens o apid
con i ma ion and unambiguous iden i ica ion.
Fu he , he e ol ing DNA sequencing
me hodology could speed up plan iden i ica ion
by complemen ing he adi ional axonomic
app oaches (Bha isha and Thake , 2017; de Boe
e al., 2022). In he upcoming yea s, a lo newe
new species may be disco e ed u ilizing he
eme ging molecula echniques which a e c ucial
o unc ional axonomic esea ch in India.
5. Conclusion
Explo a ion o endemic axa is essen ial o in-
si u and ex-si u conse a ion and o egula e
conse a ion policies. The cu en s udy enlis ed
272 endemic axa o Tamil Nadu, ep esen ing
138 gene a and 59 amilies. He baceous endemics
domina ed he ees, sh ubs, and climbe s. The
ege a ion g adien occu ing a hill slopes
o he Wes e n Gha s ac s as a mic ohabi a
o specia ion. Abou 26% o endemics a e
h ea ened, which indica es he high isk o
ex inc ion o hese axa. Fu he mo e, many
endemic axa a ac medicinal and imbe alue,
which could be o e -ex ac ed om he wild,
leading o ex inc ion. In addi ion, loss o habi a ,
decline in popula ion, and an h opogenic
p essu e se e ely a ec he popula ion s a us o
endemics. The e o e, he cu en s udy ein o ces
he need o assess all he endemics based on
IUCN guidelines. The comp ehensi e da a on
h ea ened endemic axa enlis ed om his s udy
could help o implemen conse a ion s a egies
and o p ese e he unique endemic axa.
Acknowledgemen s
The au ho s hank he Na ional Biodi e si y
Au ho i y and Tamil Nadu S a e Biodi e si y
Boa d, Chennai. We also hank he Join
Di ec o , Bo anical Su ey o India, Sou he n
Regional Ci cle, o p o iding he He ba ium and
lib a y acili ies. The au ho s also acknowledge
D . K. Ra ikuma , Eme i us P o esso , The
Uni e si y o T ans-disciplina y Heal h Sciences
and Technology (TDU), Bengalu u, D . K.
Ka higeyan, Scien is ‘F’, Bo anical Su ey o
India, Sou he n Regional Cen e, Coimba o e, and
D . R. Mu alidha an, Assis an P o esso , D.G.
Vaishna College, Chennai, o p o iding he
plan pho og aphs. We hank M . Thi umu ugan
V, Mad as Ch is ian College (Au onomous),
Chennai, o p epa ing he Map.
95
Ni haniyal e al.
Table 1: Lis o endemic axa o Tamil Nadu
Sl.No Family Bo anical Name
1 Ranunculaceae Clema is gou iana Roxb. ex DC., a . molli olia W.T. Wang
2 Ranunculaceae Clema is heob omina Dunn
3 Annonaceae Hube an ha senjiana (R. Mu al., D. Na as. & N. Balach.) R. Mu al., D.Na as.
& N.Balach.
4 Annonaceae Miliusa la i i idis N.V. Page, Po i & K. Ra ik.
5 Annonaceae Miliusa manickamiana Mu ugan
6 Annonaceae Miliusa i unel elica Mu ugan, Manickam, Sunda esan & Jo hi
7 Annonaceae Miliusa elu ina (Dunal) Hook. . & Thomson, a . de iya ina S.M.
Rajend an, S.C. Aga wal & H.N. Ve ma
8 Annonaceae Monoon i unel eliense (M.B. Viswan. & Manik.) B.Xue & R.M.K. Saunde s
9 Be be idaceae Be be is nilghi iensis Ah end
10 Cappa aceae Cappa is kollimalayana M.B. Viswan.
11 Cappa aceae Cappa is danielii Mu ugan, R. Manik., S.P. Ni hya, B. Ka hik & A isdason
12 Pi ospo aceae Pi ospo um anamallayense M.P. Naya & G.S. Gi i
13 Polygalaceae Polygala a illa a Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don, a . e olu a (Muke jee) G.S. Gi i
14 Ca yophyllaceae
Polyca paea co ymbosa (L.) Lam. a . di usa (Wigh & A n.) S.R.Ramesh &
Razi
15 Clusiaceae Agas hiyamalaia pauci lo a (Bedd.) S. Rajkuma & Jana h.
16 Calophyllaceae Calophyllum pascalianum B.R. Ramesh, Ayyappan & De F anceschi
17 Mal aceae Co cho us i unel eliensis Kalaisel an, Sel ak. & Rajakuma
18 Mal aceae G ewia ko haya ensis Mu ugan & Manickam
19 Elaeoca paceae Elaeoca pus blascoi Weibel
20 Malpighiaceae Hip age naya ii R.C. S i as .
21 Oxalidaceae Biophy um longib ac ea um Tadul. & K.C. Jacob
22 Oxalidaceae Biophy um puliyangudiense Rajakuma , Sel ak., S.Mu ug. & Chellap.
23 Balsaminaceae Impa iens agas yamalayensis (Bhaska ) A. Joe, Bhaska & M. Sabu
24 Balsaminaceae Impa iens aliciae C.E.C.Fisch., Bull. Misc. In o m. Kew 1934(9): 389.1934 a .
panda a amalayensis Bhaska
25 Balsaminaceae Impa iens aqua ica Bhaska
26 Balsaminaceae Impa iens cou allensis Ramas. & Pandu .
27 Balsaminaceae Impa iens debilis Tu ez.
28 Balsaminaceae Impa iens dindigulensis Ramas., Anjana & Chand a
29 Balsaminaceae Impa iens la escens Ka upp. & V. Ra ich.
30 Balsaminaceae Impa iens kaw yana Chhab a & Ramneek
31 Balsaminaceae Impa iens la ico nis C.E.C. Fisch.
32 Balsaminaceae Impa iens megamalayana Ramas.
102
A Checklis o S enoendemic Angiospe ms o Tamil Nadu
Sl.No Family Bo anical Name
237
Cype aceae Fimb is ylis si a ajanii W. Khan & R.D. Tau
238
Cype aceae Fimb is ylis s igosa Go ind.
239
Cype aceae Fimb is ylis o i olia Go ind.
240
Cype aceae Fimb is ylis elliangi iensis Mu ug., V.Balas. & Naga ajan
241
Cype aceae Fui ena pubescens (Poi .) Kun h a . pe gamen acea C.E.C.Fisch.
242
Cype aceae Scle ia swamyi Go ind.,
243
O chidaceae Habena ia den icula a Rchb. .
244
O chidaceae Habena ia pallide i idis Seiden . ex K.M. Ma hew
245
O chidaceae Habena ia polyodon Hook. .
246
O chidaceae Lipa is beddomei Ridl.
247
O chidaceae Luisia megamalaiana Ka upp. & V.Ra ich
248
O chidaceae Obe onia balak ishnanii R. Ansa i
249
O chidaceae Polys achya seiden adeniana My nik & Ba anow
250
O chidaceae T opidia hegde aoi S.Mis a
251
O chidaceae Zeuxine chowdhe yi A .Bha acha jee & Sabap.
252
Poaceae Ac achne hen a diana (Bo ) S. M. Phillips.
253
Poaceae Ag os is schmidii (Hook. .) Fische .
254
Poaceae And opogon longipes Hack.
255
Poaceae B achia ia nilagi ica Bo
256
Poaceae Chlo is wigh iana Nees ex S eud.
257
Poaceae Ch ysopogon copei Mohanan & Ra i
258
Poaceae Dime ia jayachand anii A isdason & P. Daniel
259
Poaceae Dime ia kollimalayana Mohanan & Rao
260
Poaceae En e opogon coimba o ensis K K. N. Nai , Jain & Naya
261
Poaceae E ag os is o le i S ap
262
Poaceae E ioch ysis angacha ii Fische
263
Poaceae Helic o ichon polyneu um (Hook. .) Hen a d.
264
Poaceae Isachne deccanensis Bo
265
Poaceae Ischaemum koenigii (Hook. .) S ap ex Fische .
266
Poaceae Polypogon nilgi icus Kabee & V.J.Nai
267
Poaceae T achys copeana Kabee & V.J. Nai
268
Poaceae T achys na asimhanii Ra ich.
269
Poaceae T ipogon ashihoi Mu ug., A um. & Kabee
270
Poaceae T ipogon bo ii Kabee , V.J.Nai & G.V.S.Mu hy
271
Poaceae T ipogon copei Newmas e , V.Balas., Mu ug. & Ragup.
272
Poaceae T ipogon a ianus Sunil & P adeep
103
Ni haniyal e al.
Sl.No Bo anical Name Family Conse a ion S a us Re e ences
1Neu acan hus neesianus (Wigh
ex T. Ande son) C.B. Cla ke
Acan haceae Ex inc . Only wo he ba ium shee s o his species
collec ed om Tami Nadu: Paloo , Palayanko ai is
a ailable in he Hooke He ba ium a Kew.
Kameswa a e al. (2003)
2Jus icia amilnadensis P.Raja &
Soosai aj, sp. no
Acan haceae
C i ically Endange ed. The A ea o Occupancy (AOO)
is c. 0.5 km² and he dis ibu ion is limi ed o he ype
locali y and o al popula ion is less han 20 indi iduals.
This species is classi ied in c i e ion B (AOO) unde B2a
and B2b and c i e ion D (numbe o ma u e indi iduals is
less han 20) as well o mee he c i e ia o he C i ically
Endange ed B2ab (ii,iii, ); D.
Raja e al. (2023)
3Lepidaga his gandhii Gnanasek.,
A.F.J.King, S.M.Kasim &
A isdason
Acan haceae C i ically Endange ed. The EOO and AOO o his species
a e 21.2 km2 and 16 km2 espec i ely. Se e e decline o
ma u e indi iduals was obse ed in he ield. The species is
e alua ed p o isionally he e as ‘C i ically Endange ed’ [CR
B1b(i,iii, )c(i) + 2b(ii,iii, )c(ii)] ollowing he IUCN Red
Lis Ca ego ies and C i e ia e sion 15.1.
Gnanaseka an e al.
(2023)
4S obilan hes icos a a
S. Thomas, B. Mani, B i o &
P adeep
Acan haceae C i ically Endange ed. The ex en o occu ence (EOO)
is less han 100 km2 (B1) and he a ea o occupancy
(AOO) is less han 10 km2 (B2). I is ound in only one
loca ion (B2a) and he numbe o ma u e indi iduals
is less han 250 (C). The habi a is se e ely agmen ed
and decline obse ed in he a ea and quali y o habi a
(B2biii). Based on abo e c i e ion he species is assessed
as c i ically endange ed (CR).
Thomas e al. (2019)
Table 2: . Lis o IUCN ed-lis ed h ea ened axa o Tamil Nadu.
104
A Checklis o S enoendemic Angiospe ms o Tamil Nadu
Sl.No Bo anical Name Family Conse a ion S a us Re e ences
5And og aphis o undi olia
(S eem.) S eem.
Acan haceae C i ically Endange ed. The species is assessed as
‘C i ically Endange ed’ [CR B1a+B2a] in Bolu ampa i
hills, Coimba o e Dis ic , using he IUCN Red Lis
Ca ego ies and C i e ia e sion 3.1.
Gnanaseka an & Mu hy
(2015)
6Ba le ia du ai ajii K. Ra ik., D.
Na as., De ana h. & Gnanasek.
Acan haceae C i ically Endange ed. The species is known only om
he ype locali y, whe e i is e y common. Howe e ,
mo e explo a ions in simila habi a s a e equi ed o
know i s popula ion size, a ea o occupancy and ex en o
occu ence and h ea s, i any, o assess he exac h ea
ca ego y.
Ra ikuma e al. (2016)
7And og aphis o hii C.B. Cla ke Acan haceae Endange ed. The species is e y poo ly ep esen ed
in na ional and in e na ional he ba ia by less han 10
collec ions and all o hem ha e been collec ed om he
Wes e n Gha s o Ti unel eli dis ic in Tamil Nadu.
The e o e, he species is assessed as ‘Endange ed’ [EN
(B1ab(iii)+B2ab(iii)] using IUCN Red Lis Ca ego ies
and C i e ia Ve sion 3.1.
Gnanaseka an e al.
(2015)
8No hopegia aj a elui
K. Ra ik. & V. Lakshm.
Anaca diaceae Endange ed. Known om only Kudampa ai Es a e,
Megamalai, High Wa y’s Moun ains, Pachakuma e u Hills
Lakshmanan &
Ra ikuma (1988)
9Monoon i unel eliense (M.B.
Viswan. & Manik.) B.Xue &
R.M.K.Saunde s
Annonaceae C i ically Endange ed. S eno-endemic and c i ically
endange ed species dis ibu ed in he Kalakkad
Mundan hu ai Tige Rese e (KMTR) in India
Xue e al. (2018)
10 Ce opegia apina iana
(B i o & B uyns) B uyns
Apocynaceae Vulne able. Known om only ype loca ion Tamil Nadu,
Pudukko ai Dis ic , Na hamalai.
Rajaseka e al. (2023)
11 Hoya kanyakuma iana Hen y &
Swamin.
Apocynaceae C i ically Endange ed. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
12 Ce opegia ma hewiana (B uyns
& B i o) B uyns
Apocynaceae Vulne able. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
105
Ni haniyal e al.
Sl.No Bo anical Name Family Conse a ion S a us Re e ences
13 Ce opegia saldanhae (B i o &
B uyns) B uyns
Apocynaceae Vulne able. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
14 Sche le a madu aiensis K.Ra ik.
& V.Lakshm.
A aliaceae Endange ed. Known om only wo loca ion i.e., Way
o Su uli alls, Theni dis ic and Megamalai Wildli e
Sanc ua y, Tamil Nadu.
Ra ichand an (2016)
15 Sche le a agas hiyamalayana
Manickam, Mu ugan, Sunda esan
& Jo hi
A aliaceae Endange ed. De ika & Ami ha Bachan
2023.
16 Cissampelopsis i ekanan hanii
Gopalan & Chi h a
As e aceae C i ically Endange ed. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
17 Impa iens anyae R.K .Singh,
A igela & Kabee
Balsaminaceae Endange ed. Known om only ype locali y Kodaikanal
Wildli e Sanc ua y. Species is ep esen ed by abou 195
ma u e indi iduals
A igela e al. (2019)
18 Impa iens amilnadensis Ramas. Balsaminaceae Endange ed. Known om only ype locali y Megamalai
Wildli e Sanc ua y.
Raju (2020)
19 Impa iens aliciae C.E.C.Fisch. a . Balsaminaceae C i ically Endange ed. Known om only ype locali y
panda a amalai
Bhaska (2012)
20 Impa iens la escens Ka upp. &
V. Ra ich.
Balsaminaceae C i ically Endange ed. Known only om a small a ea in
Megamalai hills, Theni Dis ic , Tamil Nadu. The habi a
is exposed o o es i e, ca le g azing and ou ism
impac , hence i is assessed as C i ically Endange ed
(CR).
Subbiah & Vellingi i
(2019)
21 Impa iens megamalayana Ramas. Balsaminaceae C i ically Endange ed. Ra e species occu ing on hill
ops Megamalai Hills, Theni Dis ic , Tamil Nadu,
India. The e o e, he species is assessed as C i ically
Endange ed (CR B1ab(i,ii, ); 2ab(i,ii,i ); D) in
acco dance wi h he IUCN guidelines.
Ramasubbu e al. (2017)
106
A Checklis o S enoendemic Angiospe ms o Tamil Nadu
Sl.No Bo anical Name Family Conse a ion S a us Re e ences
22 Impa iens la ico nis C.E.C. Fisch. Balsaminaceae C i ically Endange ed. The a ea o occupancy is abou 3
km2 wi h only 18 ma u ed indi iduals in Bangi Halla, on
way o Bangi appal om uppe Bha ani. The e o e, he
species is p o isionally assessed as C i ically Endange ed
(CR).
Tha ani e al. (2021).
23 Impa iens cou allensis Ramas. &
Pandu .
Balsaminaceae C i ically Endange ed. The e we e only wo popula ions
(32±9 indi iduals pe popula ions) obse ed wi hin 0.6
km and he habi a was se e ally a ec ed by landslide.
The e o e, he species is assessed as c i ically endange ed
acco ding o he IUCN.
Ramasubbu e al. (2015)
24 Impa iens debilis Tu ez. Balsaminaceae C i ically Endange ed.
Na asimhan & I win (2021)
25 Euonymus kanyakuma iensis
Mu ugan & Manickam
Celas aceae Endange ed. Known o m only he ype locali y on he
way o Pa a hain, Mahend agi i Hills, Kanyakuma i
dis ic , Tamil Nadu, India
Mu ugan & Manickam
(2005)
26 Euonymus ba be i
Mu ugan & Manickam
Celas aceae Endange ed. Known om only he ype loca ion
Agas hiyamalai, India.
Mu ugan & Manickam
(2006)
27 Mic o opis mic oca pa Wigh
a . densi lo a (Wigh ) Meissne
F ec n.
Celas aceae Endange ed.
28 Agas hiyamalaia pauci lo a
(Bedd.) S.Rajkuma & Jana h.
Clusiaceae C i ically Endange ed. This species has been assessed
as C i ically Endange ed (CR B1+2c e . 2.3 (1994) by
WCMC unde Poeciloneu on pauci lo um Bedd.
Wo ld Conse a ion
Moni o ing Cen e
(2017)
107
Ni haniyal e al.
Sl.No Bo anical Name Family Conse a ion S a us Re e ences
29 Cype us coonoo ensis Viji Cype aceae C i ically Endange ed. The ex en o occu ence (EOO)
is less han 10 km2 and he a ea o occupancy (AOO) is
less han 0.5 km2, and he e a e less han 250 indi iduals
in he popula ion, which indica es i s na ow endemic
na u e. The e o e, p elimina y conse a ion assessmen
conside ed his species as C i ically Endange ed: CR –
B1a; B2a; C2a(ii) (IUCN 2012a & b, 2013).
Viji e al. (2015)
30 Elaeoca pus blascoi Weibel Elaeoca paceae C i ically Endange ed. The e a e only wo known
ma u e wild specimens o his la ge ee species
pe sis ing a Va akanal Shola o Kodaikanal, Palani hills
o Wes e n Gha s, Tamil Nadu S a e. I is h ea ened
wi h habi a loss as a esul o inc eased o es y
and ag icul u e. The species is assessed as C i ically
Endange ed B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) (IUCN 2021)
Ra eend an (2022)
31 E iocaulon panagudianum
R.Ansa i & N.P.Balak .
E iocaulaceae C i ically Endange ed. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
32 Eupho bia heyneana Sp eng.
subsp. nilagi ica (Miq.) Panig ahi
Eupho biaceae Endange ed. Known om only he ype loca ion he
Nilgi i Hills
Panig ahi (1974)
33 Syzygium mic ophyllum Gamble My aceae Endange ed. Known om only he ype locali y in he
Agas yamalai Hills. Mo e in o ma ion is needed on he
s a us o he species and di ec h ea s o i s popula ions.
Endange ed B1+2c.
Wo ld Conse a ion
Moni o ing Cen e
(1998a)
34 Koilodepas calycinum Bedd. Eupho biaceae Endange ed. Species is known om only wo
collec ions Panagudi in Kaniyakuma i and Se hu Hills
in Ramana hapu am Dis ic . The e o e, p elimina y
conse a ion assessmen conside ed his species as
Endange ed B1+2c.
Wo ld Conse a ion
Moni o ing Cen e
(1998b)
108
A Checklis o S enoendemic Angiospe ms o Tamil Nadu
Sl.No Bo anical Name Family Conse a ion S a us Re e ences
35 Mic ococca wigh ii (Hook. .)
P ain, a . angus a a (S.R.M.
Susila Rani & N.P. Balak .) Radcl.
-Sm. & Go ae s
Eupho biaceae C i ically Endange ed. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
36 De is ma hewii Ko aim. Fabaceae Vulne able. Known om only he ype loca ion Alaga
Hills, Nupu agangai- Pe iaa u i alley.
Ko aimu hu Vasude an
(2016)
37 De is ben hamii (Thw.) Thw.
a . wigh ii (Bake ) Tho h.
Fabaceae Endange ed. Known om only he ype loca ion
Kalakad-Mundan hu ai Tige Rese e.
Tho ha h i (1984)
38 Dalbe gia inne elliensis Tho h. Fabaceae Endange ed. Known om only ype locali y Kalakad-
Mundan hu ai Tige Rese e.
Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
39 Dalbe gia ga dne iana Ben h. Fabaceae Endange ed. The ex en o occu ence (EOO) and a ea o
occupancy (AOO) a e 125 km2 and 28 km2, espec i ely,
and he species is known om ou loca ions. The e o e,
he species is assessed as Endange ed B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).
Plumme (2022)
40 Indigo e a i unel elica Sanjappa Fabaceae Endange ed. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
41 Dalbe gia inne elliensis Tho h. Fabaceae C i ically Endange ed. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
42
Pogos emon hedgei V.S.Kuma &
B.D.Sha ma
Lamiaceae C i ically Endange ed. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
43 Teuc ium plec an hoides
Gamble
Lamiaceae C i ically Endange ed. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
44
P emna mundan hu aiensis
Rajend an & P.Daniel
Lamiaceae Endange ed. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
109
Ni haniyal e al.
Sl.No Bo anical Name Family Conse a ion S a us Re e ences
45 Linde nia minima (Ben h.)
Muke jee
Linde niaceae Endange ed. Known om only wo loca ions wi h a
es ic ed a ea o occupancy and ex en o occu ence.
I has a disjunc dis ibu ion, ound in Chengalpa u
and in Ti unel eli on he eas coas . The wo known
popula ions a e h ea ened by comme cial and
esiden ial de elopmen s. I is he e o e assessed as
Endange ed B1ab(ii,iii, )+2ab(ii,iii, ).
Rehel (2013)
46 Hip age naya ii R.C. S i as . Malpighiaceae Endange ed. The ex en o occu ence (EOO): 6 sq.
km (B1) and a ea o occupancy (AOO): 4 sq. km (B2).
Dis ibu ed wi hin he anges o Ambasamud am and
Mundan hu ai in he Kalakad Mundan hu ai Tige
Rese e (KMTR). The e o e, p elimina y conse a ion
assessmen conside ed his species as Endange ed.
Viswana han e al. (2021)
47 Osbeckia i unel elica Manickam
& Mu ugan ex Ko aim. &
Gnanasek.
Melas oma aceae Endange ed. Known o m only owa ds he oad below
Manjolai, Manjolai hills, Ti unel eli Dis ic , India.
Ko aimu hu &
Gnanaseka an (2015)
48 Memecylon i unel elicum
Mu ugan, Manickam & Sunda esan
Melas oma aceae Endange ed. Known om only Kalakad Wild Li e
Sanc ua y, Sengal he i-Kuli a i pa h.
Mu ugan e al. (2001)
49 Memecylon mundan hu aianum
M.B.Viswan. & Manik.
Melas oma aceae Endange ed. Known om only Kalakad- Mundan hu ai
Tige Rese e, nea Poonkulam.
Viswana han &
Manikandan (2001)
50 Memecylon manickamii
Mu ugan
Melas oma aceae Endange ed. Known om only Kalakad- Mundan hu ai
Tige Rese e.
Na asimhan & I win
(2021)
51 Sone ila pa ameswa anii K.Ra ik.
& V.Lakshm
Melas oma aceae Endange ed. Known om only ype locali y Megamalai
Wildli e Sanc ua y, Theni dis ic
Ra ichand an (2016)
Sne ila naya iana Mu ug. &
V.Balas.
Melas oma aceae Endange ed. Known om only Velliangi i hills,
Coimba o e Dis ic , Tamil Nadu, India.
Mu ugesan &
Balasub amaniam (2011)
110
A Checklis o S enoendemic Angiospe ms o Tamil Nadu
Sl.No Bo anical Name Family Conse a ion S a us Re e ences
53 Sone ila co iacea Lundin &
B.No d.
Melas oma aceae Endange ed. Species has a e y es ic ed dis ibu ion in
he a ea a ound Mahend agi i Peak in he Tinne elley
Hills. No ecen collec ions ha e been eco ded since i
was las collec ed in 1969. The e o e, i s conse a ion
s a us may be classi ied as Endange ed (EN) acco ding o
IUCN Red Lis c i e ia.
Lundin & No dens am
(2009)
54 Sone ila kanniyakuma iana
Gopalan & A.N.Hen y
Melas oma aceae Endange ed. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
55 Sone ila sadasi anii Naya a .
kanniyakuma iensis G.S.Gi i &
M.P.Naya
Melas oma aceae Vulne able. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
56 Sone ila inaequalis Mu ugan &
Manickam
Melas oma aceae Endange ed. Na asimhan & I win
(2021)
57 Eugenia manickamiana Mu ugan My aceae Endange ed. Known om only he ype loca ion
Ti unel eli Dis ic , Cou allum Hills, way o A aikkadu
om The kkumalai Es a e.
58 Eugenia megamalayana Mu ugan
& A um.
My aceae C i ically Endange ed. Only h ee indi iduals we e seen
in he co ee plan a ion o d y o es a eas, he new axon
is assigned he e as a “C i ically Endange ed” [CR A3c]
ollowing he IUCN Red Lis Ca ego ies and C i e ia due
o p elimina y isk o ex inc ion.
Mu ugan & A umugam
(2019)
59 Syzygium bha a hii
Ramas.
My aceae C i ically Endange ed. The species is known om only
one si e o Megamalai hills and he e we e abou 30
indi iduals obse ed wi hin 4.67 km2. Hence, he species
is assessed as C i ically endange ed (CR; C i e ion B1(a),
B2 +C2(a)(i),(b)+D)acco ding o he IUCN guidelines
(2016).
Raju e al. (2018)
111
Ni haniyal e al.
Sl.No Bo anical Name Family Conse a ion S a us Re e ences
60 Eugenia bolampa iana V.Ra ich.,
Mu ug. & Mu ugan
My aceae C i ically Endange ed. The species is known only om
he ype locali y, whe e only 18 indi iduals occu in a
o es a ea o 10 km2. I s dis ibu ion has been e alua ed
unde he Red Lis Ca ego ies and C i e ia and is
assessed he e as C i ically Endange ed (CR B1ab(iii),
B2ab(iii)).
Ra ichand an e al. (2020)
61 Syzygium agas yamalayanum
M.B.Viswan. & Manik.
My aceae C i ically Endange ed. T ee species ha ing wo small
subpopula ions in he Agas hyamalai hills o he
Kalakkad Mundan hu ai Tige Rese e. The a ea o
occupancy (AOO) and he ex en o occu ence (EOO)
o he species a e 8 km2 and he numbe o ma u e
indi iduals limi ed o below 50 in se e ely agmen ed
subpopula ions. The species assessed as C i ically
Endange ed B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii); D as pe IUCN guidelines.
Viswana han &
Manikandan (2008)
62 S iga indica K.M.P. Kuma , P.
Jayan hi, A. Rajend an & M. Sabu
O obanchaceae C i ically Endange ed. The popula ion con ains
a maximum o c. 300 plan s wi h e y es ic ed
dis ibu ion. A p o isional h ea assessmen o CR
B1ab(i,ii,i ) and 2ab(i,ii,i ) has been assigned as c i ically
endange ed
Jayan hi e al. (2012)
63 S iga musselmanii Omals ee &
V.K.S eeni as
O obanchaceae C i ically Endange ed. The species is ound only 15-
25 plan s dis ibu ed in wo sub popula ions in a e y
small a ea o 1 km2. The majo h ea o habi a a e
due o o ou ism de elopmen . The conse a ion
s a us is assessed he e as ‘C i ically Endange ed [CR
B1a(iii,i )+2a(iii,i ); D]’ (IUCN 2017).
Moolayil & S eeni as
(2018)
64 Phyllan hus singampa ianus
(Sebas . & A.N. Hen y) Kuma i &
Chand ab.
Phyllan haceae C i ically Endange ed. Gopalan & Hen y (2000)
