Diversity of Carnivorous Plants in Kanyakumari Wild life Sanctuary, Southern Western Ghats

Abstract

Biodiversity has always been an interesting and untamed parts of the earth for human beings even they are much closer to each other. The magical parts of biodiversity, plants play the major role. Like several animals, various plant species are carnivorous, that they consume insects and other small animals for a primary source of minerals and nutrients for growth. Instead of actually eating insects, carnivorous plants trap them by various means, depending upon the kind of plant.  Carnivorous plants are on the verge of extinction the world over. The Western Ghats is a global biodiversity hotspot and a world heritage site. Kanyakumari forests form the southernmost ranges of Agasthiyamalai, a compact forested tract in southern Western Ghats. This study aimed at surveying and assessing the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary for carnivorous plants and resulted in the collection of 13 species. Among the species, 10 taxa belonging to the family Lentibulariaceae, and 3 taxa belonging to the family Droseraceae. Utricularia babui S.R.Yadav, Sardesai & S.P.Gaikwad was new distributional record was found in the Western Ghats of India where it grows along small streams in open places. Owing to its significant geographic position in the southern end of the Western Ghats, varied climate and altitude Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary possesses a very rich and diverse flora, especially carnivorous plants.  This study gains importance because of the study area faces a lot of threats, mostly anthropogenic, such as summer fires, collection of non-timber forest products, conversion of forest lands into monoculture (rubber plantation), hydroelectric power projects, etc.