Noticed near the Eravikulam Park
In a major breakthrough in
eco-conservation, forest officials
in Munnar have spotted
two critically endangered
impatiens plant
species on the peripheries
of the Eravikulam National
Park.
Impatiens, also called
jewel weeds, are seen in
pristine forests where moisture
content and relative humidity
are high. The
Eravikulam National Park
and the Mankulam forest division
are surrounded by
sholas. Two new species of
balsams (impatiens) have
been discovered by the officials
from the shola forests
on the periphery of the park
and Mankulam with the
help of scientists.
The Munnar-Mankulam
landscape is famous for impatiens
varieties, one of
which was Impatiens travancorica
that was spotted
sometime ago.
One of the new plants,
Impatiens panduranganii,
was first noticed in 2015 by
Prasad G., wildlife warden
of Munnar, during a research
on impatiens in the
Pettimudi area. It is similar
to Impatiens travancorica.
Talking to The Hindu, Mr
Prasad said the number of
species then spotted was
very low due to the unscientific
road construction
to Edamalakudy.
Only below 35 plants with
flower could be found in
2015. In 2016, when Prabhu
Kumar of Kottakkal Arya
Vaidyasala visited Munnar,
there were about 200 and
300 of the plants, which
were named Impatiens
pandurangani
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