A narrow endemic species of Western Ghats, reported exclusively from the evergreen forests of Wayanad, Eugenia argentea Bedd., bloomed at the conservatory of M S Swaminathan Botanical Garden (MSSBG). Major R. H. Beddome in 1872 had collected the plants originally from Western Ghats. The collection of this species has not been recorded since then and the botanists worked in this region specified on it, on the basis of Beddome’s collection. A team of researchers from M S Swaminathan Research Foundation rediscovered this plant, which was presumed to be extinct, from the Shola forest, Kurichyarmala, Wayanad district after a lapse of 140 years. The distribution of the plant has been recorded in the Evergreen and Shola forests in an altitude of 800m-1500m MSL. The restricted geographical distribution makes the species a critically endangered one. Creamy white flowers and silvery pubescent young leaves categorize the species from the understory vegetation. The plant that was collected 8 years back and conserved at MSSBG has flourished to its magnificence.
Reference
M K Rathesh Narayanan, P. Sujanapal, C. S Dhanya & N Anil Kumar, Rediscovery of Eugenia argentia Bedd. (Myrtaceae) with notes on its distribution range and conservation status., J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 34(3): 501-504 (2010).
Information & Photography: Mr. Nandakumar M K; Editing: Dr. Smitha S. Thankappan; Approval: Dr. N Anil Kumar