In news- Recently, the Botanical Survey of India(BSI) has published the Plant Discoveries report, 2020.
Key highlights of the report-
- In its recent report, BSI has added 267 new taxa/ species to the country’s flora.
- The 267 new discoveries include 119 angiosperms; 3 pteridophytes; 5 bryophytes, 44 lichens; 57 fungi, 21 algae and 18 microbes.
- In 2020, 202 new plant species were discovered across the country and 65 new records were added.
- Among the new discoveries this year, nine new species of balsams (Impatiens) one species of wild banana (Musa pradhanii) were discovered from Darjeeling, one species each of wild jamun (Sygygium anamalaianum) from Coimbatore and fern species (Selaginella odishana) were recorded from Kandhamal in Odisha.
- There are 14 new macro and 31 new micro fungi species recorded from various parts of India.
- This year one new monogeneric family Hanguanaceae has been recorded for the first time from India.
- As per BSI, during the last decade a total number of 3,245 taxa of plants from different plant groups have been discovered from India.
- Most discoveries have been made from seed plants, with 1,199 (37%) taxa, followed by fungi 894 (27%).
- 22% of the discoveries were made from the Western Ghats followed by Western Himalayas (15%), Eastern Himalayas (14%) and Northeast Ranges (12%).
- The West coast contributed 10% while the East Coast contributed (9%) in total discoveries; Eastern Ghats and South Deccan contributed 4% of each while Central Highland and North Deccan added 3% each.
Botanical Survey of India(BSI)-
- Botanical Survey of India located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
- It is the apex taxonomic research organization of the country which is under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
- It was established on 13th February 1890 under the direction of Sir George King.
- After Independence, BSI was reorganized in 1954, under the leadership of Dr. E.K. Janaki Ammal.
- Over the years, the mandate of the organization has been broadened to biosystematics research, floristic studies, documentation, database of National Botanical collection, digitization of herbarium specimens, development of molecular taxonomy laboratory, advisory services and capacity building training programmes etc.
- Presently, BSI is spread in 11 Regional Centers with 4 units at Head Quarter, Kolkata, viz.
- Industrial Section Indian Museum (ISIM)
- Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden (AJCBIBG), Howrah – the oldest garden (founded in 1787)
- Central Botanical Laboratory (CBL) and Central National Herbarium (CNH) and
- Botanic Garden of Indian Republic, Noida (founded in 2002).
- BSI has also recently established molecular taxonomy laboratories at Shillong and Pune.
Source: The Hindu
