A group of scientists has identified a new plant species from the forest area of Idamalakkudy colony in Idukki, where Muthuvar tribal community resides.

Key Points

• Scientists including from University of Kerala and Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden & Research Institute (TBGRI), identified the plant.
• New species of the plant has been named as ‘Cryptocaria Muthuvariana’, named after the Muthuvar tribal community.
• Muthuvar Traibal community plays a significant role in conserving the forest.
• For the first time, any plant species has been named after a local tribal community in the state.

Cryptocarya Muthuvariana

Cryptocarya Muthuvariana species of the tree belongs to genus Cryptocarya. The tree grows to a top of around 10 to 15 meters. It is characterised by not-too-broad leaves.

By: Brijesh Kumar