Rare plant species to be displayed at biodiversity meet

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - A rare collection of 32 aquatic plant species, most of them facing extinction, will be displayed at the Indian Biodiversity Congress (IBC) here, a statement said Monday.

The Kerala government funded Malabar Botanical Garden Society will display the plants Dec 27-31, it added.

According to society director R. Prakashkumar, the plants include those from the Pipewort family (Eriocaulaceae), found in the Western Ghats mountain range and the Floating Heart, belonging to the Menanthaceae family.

Both these are now present only in some parts of Madayippara near Payyannur in Kannur district and are securely preserved in the Botanical Garden,” he said.

Malabar region in south India was a treasure trove of several exotic varieties of aquatic plants, he said.

We are determined to preserve the biodiversity of the Western Ghats in general, with special emphasis on aquatic plants and that of the Malabar region in particular,” said Prakashkumar.

Beginning Dec 27, the five-day IBC will be held at the Kerala University campus here.

IBC 2010 is being jointly organised by the Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA), National Biodiversity Authority, Kerala Biodiversity Board, University of Kerala and Navdanya, a network of organic farmers.

–Indo Asian News Service