Ten rare trees facing extinction

Ten rare trees, "narrowly endemic" to Kerala, are facing the threat of extinction.Syzygium palghatense, which was first described in 1918 from the Palakkad Hills, is one such tree that is fighting for survival.The scientists of the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, have spotted it in the Pandaravarai forests of the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. Fewer than 10 of these trees survive in the locality.Dialium travancoricum, locally known as "Malampuli," capable of growing over 100 feet, is another species at risk. The tree was first described in 1904 from the Ponmudi forests. Atuna indica, another threatened variety, was first described in 1868 from Malabar and subsequently rediscovered from the Nilambur and Kakkayam forests.Agalia malabarica, locally known as 'Chuvannakil,' is another critically endangered tree whose distribution is restricted to three isolated localities in Kerala. The tree was spotted in Peechi, Vythiri and the Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary.Anacolosa densiflora, which was first described in 1864 from erstwhile Travancore, exists only in the Vallakkadavu forest of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Madhuca bourdillonii, a giant tree locally known as Thandidiyan, was first spotted in 1921 from the Kulathupuzha-Aryankavu valleys and was later found in Vazhani, the Charpa forest and the Shenduruny sanctuary. Inga cynometroides, found in Rosemala, is restricted to less than 1sq km. The only surviving population of Humboldtia bourdillonii, another critically endangered tree, is found at Arjunankotta-Chenthamarakokka in the Periyar Tiger Reserve.Palaquium ravii, which was first located from the Peechi forests and later located in Periyar Tiger Reserve and the Nelliyampathy forests in Palakkad, and Syzygium periyarensis, found in Sundermala of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, are the other critically endangered trees of the State.These trees, considered possibly extinct, were relocated by the scientists of the institute. The institute plans to propagate them through various propagation methods, says K.V. Sankaran, Director of KFRI.

 The Hindu, 27th  April 2009