What is Gongronema sasidharanii?

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About Gongronema Sasidharanii:

It is a new species of plant discovered in Pampadum Shola National Park, Idukki District, Kerala.
It is a plant with smooth stems and small urn-shaped creamy white to purplish-green flowers.
This is also the first time the genusGongronema is being reported from south India.
- In India, the genus Gongronema has so far been represented by just three species found in northeast India, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and West Bengal.

Key Facts about Pampadum Shola National Park:

It is located in the eastern part of the Southern Western Ghats in Idukki District, Kerala.
Stretching over an area of around 12 sq km, the name ‘Pampadum Shola’ literally means ‘the forest where the snake dances’.
The terrain is undulating with hillocks of varying heights. The altitudes range between 1600-2400 m.
The park experiences a misty and cloudy climate throughout the year, and it receives heavy rain during the North-East monsoon.
Vegetation: It houses evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests,shola grasslands, and semi-evergreen.
Flora: It is host to 22 species of trees, 74 species of herbs and shrubs, and 16 species of climbers.
Fauna:
- Tigers, leopards, giant gizzard squirrels, the rarely spotted flying squirrels,Nilgiri Tahr, and spotted deer.
- The Nilgiri marten, the only species of marten found in South India, can also be spotted here.
- Around 100 species of butterflies have been recorded at the park.

Q1: What is Nilgiri Tahr?

Nilgiri Tahr is the only Caprinae species found in the tropical mountains of southern.They are endemic to the Western Ghats and used to inhabit a large part of the Western Ghats between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They are classified as Endangered under the IUCN Red List.