ResearchDISCOVERCompleted
Checklist documents 3,261 flowering plant species in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala21 Sept 2026
A research team from Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram, compiled a comprehensive checklist of flowering plants in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, documenting 3,261 species along with 26 subspecies and 28 varieties. The checklist and accompanying paper were published in the journal Plant Science Today, reporting high endemism including 1,018 taxa (31.2%) endemic to India.
Why it matters
A published, consolidated species checklist strengthens the evidence base for conservation planning and region-specific protection strategies in a biodiversity-rich part of the Western Ghats.
Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI)Plant Science Today