- Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India have identified a new plant species from two protected National Parks’ Buxa and Jaldapara in West Bengal.
- To honor the former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam, the new plant species has been named ‘Drypetes kalamii’
- It is a small floral shrub found to be shorter version of its close relative Drypetes ellisii.
Features
- It is just 1 metre tall.
- Being unisexual in nature, these species have separate male and female plants.
- The new species is a close relative of a medicinal plant known in Sanskrit as Putrajivah.
- This plant species is different from Drypetes species. The differences were documented in the leaf, flower and fruit structures.
- It is found in wet, shaded areas of subtropical moist semi-evergreen forests, at a height ranging 50-100 metres.
- It has pale yellow flowers in clusters and bright orange to red fruits.
- The plant is exclusive to the two national parks of West Bengal, namely; Buxa National Park and Jaldapara National Park.
- It might be classified as “Critically Endangered” plant species as per the IUCN rule book.
About Drypetes
- The genus Drypetes is in the family Putranjivaceae in the major group Angiosperms.
- There are about 220 species of Drypetes identified across the globe.
- Out of 220 Drypetes, 20 have been reported from India.
