Context:
Recently, a new plant species found on the high, muddy slopes of the Nelliyampathy hills in Kerala’s Palakkad district has been named as Stellaria mcclintockiae.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Stellaria mcclintockiae: A New Species
- Classification
- Genus: Stellaria
- Family: Caryophyllaceae
Features
- Growth Habit: Annual herb reaching up to 15 cm in height.
- Habitat: Found exclusively in the Nelliyampathy hills, at elevations between 1,250 and 1,400 meters.
Unique Characteristics:
- Differentiated by its petals, pollen morphology, bracts, sepals, and seed architecture.
- First reported species of the genus Stellaria from South India.
Conservation Status
- Recommendation: Researchers suggest that Stellaria mcclintockiae should be classified as critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria.
-Source: The Hindu
