Rare,
Endangered and threatened species
Extinction or
rarity of species may be due to environmental factors,
ecological substitutes, biological factors, pathological causes
and habitat destruction. The state of Kerala
habitat destruction through conversion of forests into
plantations and diversion of forests for non-forestry purpose such
as hydel and irrigation projects took place to a great
extent. . As a result the large chunk of forests
became fragmented into isolated patches. Each such isolated
patches act like an ecological island. Over exploitation of certain species (e.g.
Paphiopedilum druryi) has also put them under threatened category,
IUCN has estimated that about 10% of world’s vascular plants
(20,000 to 25,000) are under different categories of threat.
Among the RET species reported from
Kerala, Rubiaceae, and Fabaceae represents the maximum number of
species (14 each) followed by Orchidaceae, (13), and Asclepiadaceae(11). Twenty three families are represented by
single species (Table 1). Out of the 159 rare, endangered
vulnerable and threatened species 70 are herbs, 23 are climbers, 8
epiphytic 15 shrubs and 43 trees. There are 64 rare, 22
threatened (vulnerable), 50 endangered and 7 extinct. Out of
the 300 rare, endangered and threatened species of WG, 68 are in
low elevation evergreen, 85 in medium elevation evergreen, 52 in
high elevation evergreen and 32 in montane grasslands and the
remaining are found in moist deciduous and dry deciduous habitat.
The major reasons for the
vulnerability of the flora are habitat degradation, habitat
alteration and unsustainable collection of NWFP species and for
other purpose. 
The alteration of habitats such as grasslands
(low, medium and high altitude ) for monoculture plantations,
riparian ecosystems as reservoirs, low lying evergreen forests as
agricultural land and homesteads has resulted in listing many
species under extinct or vulnerable category.
RET species
| S
N. |
Species |
Family |
RET
Status |
Endemic |
| 1 |
Acranthera
grandiflora |
Rubiaceae |
E |
Y |
| 2 |
Actinodaphne
bourneae |
Lauraceae |
E |
Y |
| 3 |
Actinodaphne
lanata |
Lauraceae |
E |
Y |
| 4 |
Actinodaphne
lawsonii |
Lauraceae |
R |
Y |
| 5 |
Aspidopterys
canarensis |
Malpighiaceae |
R |
Y |
| 6 |
Anaphalis barnesii |
Asteraceae |
E |
Y |
| 7 |
Anisochilus
argenetus |
Lamiaceae |
V |
Y |
| 8 |
Anisochilus
wightii |
Lamiaceae |
E |
Y |
| 9 |
Anhenry
rotundifolia |
Orchidaceae |
E |
Y |
| 10 |
Antistrophe
serratifolia |
Myrsinaceae |
R |
Y |
| 11 |
Aponogeton
apendiculatus |
Apongetonaceae |
X |
|
| 12 |
Atuna
travancorica |
Euphobiaceae |
X |
Y |
| 13 |
Begonia aliciae |
Begoniaceae |
E |
Y |
| 14 |
Begonia
anamalayana |
Begoniaceae |
V |
Y |
| 15 |
Begonia canarana |
Begoniaceae |
E |
Y |
| 16 |
Begonia cordifolia |
Begoniaceae |
R |
Y |
| 17 |
Begonia subpeltata |
Begoniaceae |
R |
|
| 18 |
Begonia
trichocarpa |
Begoniaceae |
V |
Y |
| 19 |
Bentinckia
condapanna |
Areacaceae |
|
Y |
| 20 |
Buchanania barberi |
Anacardiaceae |
E |
Y |
| 21 |
Bulbophyllum
albidum |
Orchidaceae |
R |
Y |
| 22 |
Bulbophyllum
aureum |
Orchidaceae |
R |
Y |
| 23 |
Campanula
alphonsii |
Campanulaceae |
R |
Y |
| 24 |
Capparis fusifera |
Capparaceae |
R |
Y |
| 25 |
Capparis rheedei |
Capparaceae |
R |
Y |
| 26 |
Cayratia pedata |
Vitaceae |
R |
Y |
| 27 |
Cayratia
roxburghii |
Vitaceae |
V |
Y |
| 28 |
Ceropegia barnesii |
Ascepiadaceae |
E |
Y |
| 29 |
Ceropegia beddomei |
Asclepiadaceae |
E |
Y |
| 30 |
Ceropegia
decaisneana |
Asclepiadaceae |
R |
|
| 31 |
Ceropegia metziana |
Asclepiadaceae |
R |
|
| 32 |
Ceropegia muculata |
Asclepiadaceae |
EN |
|
| 33 |
Ceropegia omissa |
Asclepiadaceae |
E |
Y |
| 34 |
Ceropegia pusilla |
Asclepiadaceae |
R |
Y |
| 35 |
Ceropegia spiralis |
Asclepiadaceae |
V |
|
| 36 |
Ceropegia
thwaitesii |
Asclepiadaceae |
V |
|
| 37 |
Clematis
bourdillonii |
Ranunculaceae |
V |
Y |
| 38 |
Clematis
theobromina |
Ranunculaceae |
R |
Y |
| 39 |
Cleome burmannii |
Capparaceae |
X |
|
| 40 |
Coelogyne mossiae |
Orchidaceae |
V |
Y |
| 41 |
Commelina
indehiscens |
Commelinaceae |
R |
Y |
| 42 |
Commelina wightii |
Commenlinaceae |
V |
Y |
| 43 |
Corymborkis
veratrifolia |
Orchidaceae |
R |
Y |
| 44 |
Crolataria scabra |
Fabaceae |
R |
|
| 45 |
Crotalaria
peduncularis |
Fabaceae |
R |
Y |
| 46 |
Cyanotis cerifolia |
Comomelinaceae |
X |
|
| 47 |
Cyathea
nilgirensis |
Cyatheaceae |
E |
Y |
| 48 |
Cyclea fissicalyx |
Menispermaceae |
R |
Y |
| 49 |
Cynometra beddomei |
Fabaceae |
X |
Y |
| 50 |
Cynometra
travancorica |
Fabaceae |
R |
Y |
| 51 |
Desmos
viridiflorus |
Annonaceae |
E |
Y |
| 52 |
Dialium
travancoricum |
Fabaceae |
X |
Y |
| 53 |
Dictyospermum
ovalifolium |
Commelinaceae |
R |
Y |
| 54 |
Didymocarpus
missionis |
Gesneriaceae |
R |
Y |
| 55 |
Elaeocarpus
munronii |
Elaeocarpaceae |
R |
Y |
| 56 |
Elaeocarpus
recurvatus |
Elaeocarpaceae |
R |
Y |
| 57 |
Elaeocarpus
venustus |
Elaeocarpaceae |
V |
Y |
| 58 |
Elaphoglossum
beddomei |
Elaphoglossaceae |
R |
Y |
| 59 |
Elaphoglossum
stigmatolepis |
Elaphoglossaceae |
V |
Y |
| 60 |
Eria albiflora |
Orchidaceae |
R |
Y |
| 61 |
Eriochrysis
rangacharii |
Poaceae |
EX |
Y |
| 62 |
Eugenia argentea |
Myrtaceae |
E
/EX |
Y |
| 63 |
Eugenia discifera |
Myrtaceae |
E |
Y |
| 64 |
Euonymus angulatus |
Celastraceae |
E |
Y |
| 65 |
Euonymus
serratifolius |
Celastraceae |
E |
Y |
| 66 |
Glycosmis
macrocarpa |
Rutaceae |
R |
Y |
| 67 |
Goniothalamus
rhynchantherus |
Annonaceae |
R |
Y |
| 68 |
Habenaria
barnesii |
Orchidaceae |
R |
Y |
| 69 |
Hedyotis beddomei |
Rubiaceae |
E |
Y |
| 70 |
Hedyotis buxifolia |
Rubiaceae |
R |
Y |
| 71 |
Hedyotis eualata |
Rubiaceae |
R |
Y |
| 72 |
Hedyotis fruticosa |
Rubiaceae |
R |
|
| 73 |
Hedyotis ramarowii |
Rubiaceae |
V |
Y |
| 74 |
Hedyotis
swertioides |
Rubiaceae |
R |
Y |
| 75 |
Helichrysum
perlanigerum |
Asteraceae |
R |
Y |
| 76 |
Hugonia belli |
Linaceae |
R |
Y |
| 77 |
Humboldtia
decurrens |
Fabaceae |
R |
Y |
| 78 |
Humboldtia
bourdilloni |
Fabaceae |
E |
Y |
| 79 |
Humboldtia
laurifolia |
Fabaceae |
E |
Y |
| 80 |
Humboldtia unijuga
var. unijuga |
Fabaceae |
E |
Y |
| 81 |
Hydnocarpus
macrocarpa |
Flacourtiaceae |
E |
Y |
| 82 |
Hydrocotyle
conferta |
Apiaceae |
R |
Y |
| 83 |
Ilex gradneriana |
Aquifoliaceae |
E
/EX |
Y |
| 84 |
Impatiens neo-barnesii |
Balsaminaceae |
E |
Y |
| 85 |
Impatiens
nilgirica |
Balsaminaceae |
E |
Y |
| 86 |
Impatiens
anaimudica |
Balsaminaceae |
R |
Y |
| 87 |
Impatiens johini |
Balsaminaceae |
E
/EX |
Y |
| 88 |
Impatiens
macrocarpa |
Balsaminaceae |
E
/EX |
Y |
| 89 |
Impatiens
munnarensis |
Balsaminaceae |
E
/EX |
Y |
| 90 |
Impatiens pandata |
Balsaminaceae |
R |
Y |
| 91 |
Inga cynometroides |
Fabaceae |
X |
Y |
| 92 |
Ipsea malabarica |
Orchidaceae |
E |
Y |
| 93 |
Isachne fischeri |
Poaceae |
R |
|
| 94 |
Isonandra stocksii |
Sapotaceae |
V |
|
| 95 |
Isonandra villosa |
Sapotaceae |
X |
|
| 96 |
Kalanchoe olivacea |
Crassulaceae |
R |
Y |
| 97 |
Limnopoa meeboldii |
Poaceae |
V |
Y |
| 98 |
Lindsea malabarica |
Lindsaeaceae |
E |
Y |
| 99 |
Liparis biloba |
Orchidaceae |
V |
Y |
| 100 |
Mackenziea caudate |
Acanthaceae |
R |
Y |
| 101 |
Madhuca
bourdillonii |
Sapotaceae |
EX |
Y |
| 102 |
Melicope indica |
Rutaceae |
V |
Y |
| 103 |
Memecylon
flavescens |
Melastomataceae |
E |
Y |
| 104 |
Memecylon
sisparense |
Melastomataceae |
X |
Y |
| 105 |
Meteoromyrtus
wynadensis |
Myrtaceae |
E |
Y |
| 106 |
Miliusa nilagrica |
Annonaceae |
V |
Y |
| 107 |
Murdannia
juncoides |
Commelinaceae |
R |
Y |
| 108 |
Murdannia
lanceolata |
Commelinaceae |
V |
Y |
| 109 |
Nothopegia
aureo-fluva |
Anacaridiaceae |
E |
Y |
| 110 |
Oberonia
brachyphylla |
Orchidaceae |
R |
Y |
| 111 |
Ochreinauclea
mission is |
Rubiaceae |
V |
Y |
| 112 |
Ophiorrhiza
barnesii |
Rubiaceae |
EX |
Y |
| 113 |
Ophiorrhiza
brunonis |
Rubiaceae |
EX |
|
| 114 |
Ophiorrhiza
incarnata |
Rubiaceae |
E |
Y |
| 115 |
Ophiorrhiza
caudate |
Rubiaceae |
EX |
Y |
| 116 |
Ophiorrhiza
radicans |
Rubiaceae |
EX |
|
| 117 |
Orophea uniflora |
Annonaceae |
R |
Y |
| 118 |
Palaquium
bourdillonii |
Sapotaceae |
X |
Y |
| 119 |
Paphiopedilum
druryi |
Orchidaceae |
E |
Y |
| 120 |
Pavetta
oblanceolata |
Rubiaceae |
X |
|
| 121 |
Peucedanum
anamallayense |
Apiaceae |
R |
Y |
| 122 |
Phaeanthus
malabaricus |
Annonaceae |
V |
Y |
| 123 |
Piper barberi |
Piperaceae |
R |
Y |
| 124 |
Pogostemon
atropurpureus |
Lamiaceae |
R |
Y |
| 125 |
Pogostemon
nilagiricus |
Lamiaceae |
E |
Y |
| 126 |
Pogostemon
paludosus |
Lamiaceae |
E |
Y |
| 127 |
Pogostemon
travancoricus |
Lamiaceae |
R |
Y |
| 128 |
Polyalthia
rufescens |
Annonaceae |
R |
Y |
| 129 |
Popowia beddomeana |
Annonaceae |
R |
Y |
| 130 |
Pronephrium
thwaitesii |
Thelypteridaceae |
V |
|
| 131 |
Pseudocyclosorous
gamblei |
Thelypteridaceae |
E |
Y |
| 132 |
Pseudocyclosorous
griseus |
Thelypteridaceae |
E |
Y |
| 133 |
Pseudoglochidion
anamalayanum |
Euphorbiaceae |
|
|
| 134 |
Pterospermum
reticulatum |
Sterculiaceae |
R |
Y |
| 135 |
Rhynchospora
submarginata |
Cyperaceae |
X |
Y |
| 136 |
Sageraea
grandiflora |
Annonaceae |
E |
Y |
| 137 |
Salacia malabarica |
Celastraceae |
E |
Y |
| 138 |
Syzygium
bourdillonii |
Myrtaceae |
E |
Y |
| 139 |
Syzygium
palghatense |
Myrtaceae |
E |
Y |
| 140 |
Syzygium
travancoricum |
Myrtaceae |
E |
Y |
| 141 |
Tephrosia barberi |
Fabaceae |
R |
Y |
| 142 |
Tephrosia
wynaadensis |
Fabaceae |
R |
Y |
| 143 |
Thottea barberi |
Aristolochiaceae |
V |
Y |
| 144 |
Toxocarpus
beddomei |
Asclepiadaceae |
R |
Y |
| 145 |
Toxocarpus
palghatensis |
Asclepiadaceae |
V |
Y |
| 146 |
Utleria
salicifolia |
Periplocaceae |
E |
Y |
| 147 |
Vanasushava pedata |
Apiaceae |
R |
Y |
| 148 |
Vanilla wightiana |
Orchidaceae |
R |
Y |
| 149 |
Vateria macrocarpa |
Dipterocarpaceae |
R |
Y |
| 150 |
Vernonia
multibracteata |
Asteraceae |
E |
Y |
| 151 |
Vernonia recurva |
Asteraceae |
E |
Y |
| 152 |
Willisia
selaginoides |
Podostemaceae |
R |
Y |
Note: E-endangered;
EX-extinct, X-undetermined; R-rare; V-vulnerable; Y-present
ENDANGERED FOREST
SPECIES IN KERALA
| Sl.
No. |
Species |
Family |
Habit |
| 1. |
Acampe congesta |
Orchidaceae |
Herbs |
| 2. |
Adenosma
malabaricum |
Scrophulariaceae |
Herbs |
| 3. |
Anaphalis
barnesii |
Compositae |
Herbs |
| 4. |
Arisaema
attenuatum |
Araceae |
Herbs |
| 5. |
Arisaema
auriculata |
Araceae |
Herbs |
| 6. |
Arisaema
peltatum |
Araceae |
Herbs |
| 7. |
Hydnocarepus macrocarpa |
Flacourtiaceae |
Trees |
| 8. |
Atuna
travancorica |
Rosaceae |
Trees |
| 9. |
Bombax
scopulorum |
Bombacaceae |
Trees |
| 10. |
Buchanania
barberi |
Anacardiaceae |
Trees |
| 11. |
Buchanania
lanceolata |
Anacardiaceae |
Trees |
| 12. |
Bulbophyllum
aureum |
Orchidaceae |
Herbs |
| 13. |
Calamus
travancoricus |
Arecaceae |
Shrubs |
| 14. |
Ceropegia
beddomei |
Asclepiadaceae |
Climbers |
| 15. |
Cirrhopetalum
avreum |
Orchidaceae |
Herbs |
| 16. |
Clematis
bourdillonni |
Ranunculaceae |
Climbers |
| 17. |
Colubrinma
travancorica |
Rhamnaceae |
Shrubs |
| 18. |
Cyclea
fissicalyx |
Menispermaceae |
Climbers |
| 19. |
Cynometra
beddomei |
Fabaceae |
Trees |
| 20. |
Cynometra
travancorica |
Fabaceae |
Trees |
| 21. |
Dalbergia
beddomei |
Fabaceae |
Lianas |
| 22. |
Dialium
travancoricum |
Fabaceae |
Trees |
| 23. |
Didymocarpus
macrostachya |
Gesneriaceae |
Herbs |
| 24. |
Dysoxylum
beddomei |
Meliaceae |
Trees |
| 25. |
Dysoxylum
ficiforme |
Meliaceae |
Trees |
| 26. |
Eugenia argentea |
Myrtaceae |
Trees |
| 27. |
Eugenia
discifera |
Myrtaceae |
Trees |
| 28. |
Garcinia imberti |
Guttiferae |
Trees |
| 29. |
Haplothismia
exannulata |
Burmanniaceae |
Herbs |
| 30. |
Hedyotis
beddomei |
Rubiaceae |
Herbs |
| 31. |
Hedyotis
bourdillonii |
Rubiaceae |
Herbs |
| 32. |
Hedyotis
wynaadensis |
Rubiaceae |
Herbs |
| 33. |
Hyalisma
janthina |
Triuridaceae |
Herbs |
| 34. |
Hydrobryum
johnsonii |
Podostemaceae |
Herbs |
| 35. |
Cinnamomum
travancoricum |
Lauraceae |
Trees |
| 36. |
Impatiens
aliciae |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 37. |
Impatiens
anaimudica |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 38. |
Impatiens
cochinica |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 39. |
Impatiens
coelotropis |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 40. |
Impatiens
concinna |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 41. |
Impatiens johnii |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 42. |
Impatiens
leptura |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 43. |
Impatiens
macrocarpa |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 44. |
Impatiens
munnarensis |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 45. |
Impatiens
pandata |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 46. |
Impatiens
platyadena |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 47. |
Impatiens
pallidiflora |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 48. |
Impatiens
rivulicola |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 49. |
Impatiens
verecunda |
Balsaminaceae |
Herbs |
| 50. |
Inga
cynometroides |
Fabaceae |
Tree |
| 51. |
Ipsea malabarica |
Orchidaceae |
Herbs |
| 52. |
Isachne fischeri |
Gramineae |
Herbs |
| 53. |
Isachne setosa |
Gramineae |
Herbs |
| 54. |
Ixora johnsonii |
Rubiaceae |
Herbs |
| 55. |
Jambosa
bourdillonii |
Myrtaceae |
Trees |
| 56. |
Janakia
arayalpathra |
Periplocaceae |
Herbs |
| 57. |
Limnopoa
meeboldii |
Gramineae |
Herbs |
| 58. |
Litsea
travancorica |
Lauraceae |
Trees |
| 59. |
Loesnerinella
bourdilonii |
Celastraceae |
Climber |
| 60. |
Madhuca
bourdillonii |
Sapotaceae |
Trees |
| 61. |
Meteoromyrtus wynaadensis |
Myrtaceae |
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