Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve Records 3,261 Flowering Plant Species
A new comprehensive checklist of flowering plants in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR) in the southern Western Ghats has documented 3,261 species, highlighting the extraordinary plant diversity of the region. The study also recorded 26 subspecies and 28 varieties, along with a significant concentration of endemic plants.
The checklist was compiled by researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram, and was published in the journal Plant Science Today in September 2026.
The latest assessment provides an extensive picture of flowering plant diversity across the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. Researchers documented plants belonging to 1,139 genera and 190 families.
The reserve, spread across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, forms an important part of the southern Western Ghats and contains diverse ecosystems, including tropical forests, montane shola forests and grasslands.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Flowering plant species | 3,261 |
| Subspecies | 26 |
| Varieties | 28 |
| Genera | 1,139 |
| Families | 190 |
| Endemic taxa | 1,018 |
| Steno-endemic taxa | 245 |
| Taxa shared with Sri Lanka | 347 |
| Research institute | JNTBGRI, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Published in | Plant Science Today |
Among the plant families recorded in the biosphere reserve, Fabaceae emerged as the most species-rich, with 349 taxa.
It was followed by:
Fabaceae, commonly known as the legume or pea family, includes a wide variety of trees, shrubs and herbs.
One of the most significant findings is the high level of endemism in the Agasthyamalai landscape.
Researchers recorded 1,018 endemic taxa, representing around 31.2% of the checklist. An endemic species or taxon is one that is naturally restricted to a particular geographical region.
The study also identified 245 steno-endemic taxa. Steno-endemic plants have an especially narrow geographical distribution, making them more vulnerable to habitat loss and environmental changes.
The study found interesting biogeographical connections between the flora of the Agasthyamalai region and neighbouring areas.
A total of 347 taxa recorded in the reserve are also found in Sri Lanka. Researchers also noted floristic affinities with tropical American vegetation, providing insights into the biogeographical history of the region.
Adding to the botanical importance of the region, scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) identified a new flowering plant called Osbeckia ulotricha from the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.
The woolly-haired flowering plant was discovered in shola grasslands at elevations between 1,200 and 1,500 metres.
The discovery further highlights the importance of continued botanical surveys in the Western Ghats, where previously undocumented species continue to be identified.
The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve is located in the southern Western Ghats and extends across parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The landscape contains tropical forests, high-altitude shola forests and grasslands and supports a large number of endemic plants and animals.
Agasthyamalai is also part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, one of the world’s major regions of biological diversity.
Given the high number of endemic and geographically restricted species, the checklist emphasised the need for stronger conservation measures.
Researchers recommended ex-situ conservation, establishment and strengthening of seed banks, restoration of degraded forest patches and incorporation of climate-change adaptation measures into conservation management plans.
Such measures are particularly important for steno-endemic species, whose limited distribution can make them more susceptible to habitat degradation and climate-related changes.
The documentation of 3,261 flowering plant species demonstrates the exceptional botanical richness of the Agasthyamalai landscape.
A detailed checklist provides scientists and conservation authorities with baseline information for monitoring biodiversity, identifying threatened species, planning habitat restoration and developing conservation strategies.
The large number of endemic taxa also reinforces the ecological importance of protecting the southern Western Ghats.
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