What is Gongronema sasidharanii?

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.