Dicliptera Polymorpha

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About Dicliptera Polymorpha:

It is a distinctive species, notable for its fire-resilient, pyrophytic habit and its unusual dual-blooming pattern.
In addition to its typical post-monsoon flowering, the species exhibits a second, vigorous burst of flowering triggered by the grassland fires commonly set by locals in the region.
This species is taxonomically unique, with inflorescence units (cymules) that develop into spicate inflorescences.
It is the only known Indian species with this spicate inflorescence structure, with its closest allied being found in Africa.
The species was named Dicliptera polymorpha to reflect its diverse morphological traits.
It thrives on slopes in open grasslands of the northern Western Ghats, an area exposed to extreme climatic conditions such as summer droughts and frequent human-induced fires. Despite these harsh conditions, the species has adapted to survive and bloom twice a year.
The first flowering phase occurs from post-monsoon (early November) to March or April, while the second flowering phase in May and June is triggered by fires.
During this second phase, the woody rootstocks produce dwarf flowering shoots, leading to a more abundant but shorter flowering period.
The species’ unique adaptation to fire and its limited habitat range in the Western Ghats highlight the need for careful management of grassland ecosystems.

Q1: What are bryophytes?

Bryophytes is the informal group name for mosses, liverworts and hornworts. They are non-vascular plants, which means they have no roots or vascular tissue, but instead absorb water and nutrients from the air through their surface (e.g., their leaves).

News: Scientists discover a new fire-resilient, dual-blooming species of Dicliptera in the Northern Western Ghats of India