NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION

THREE NEW SPECIES OF PLANTS IDENTIFIED FROM KERALA A multi-institutional team of researchers has reported the discovery of three new plant species from Kerala, throwing new light on the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats. The team led by C.N.Sunil, Associate Professor, SNM College, Maliankara, has published their findings in three international journals. One of the new species, named  Phyllanthus balakrishnanii,  was discovered from the rocky mountains of Shoolamudi hills, the highest peak in the Edamalayar forest range, Ernakulam. Belonging to the gooseberry family, the shrub is distinguished by its red warted fruits. 1. Fimbristylis pokkudaniana , a new species of Cyperaceae from the laterite hillocks of Kannur District, Kerala . It closely resembles Fimbristylis bispicula, but differs in having larger spikelets with 13–17 flowers, three yellow coloured stamens, larger style and stigma, and regularly tuberculate white nuts with epidermal cells in 18–26 rows on...