Scientists discover two new species of pipeworts in Western Ghats

Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute in Pune have recently discovered two new species of pipeworts in Western Ghats of Maharashtra and Karnataka, Department of Science and Techlogy (DST) said on Sunday.

species reported from Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra has been named Eriocaulon parvicephalum (due to its minute inflorescence size), and or reported from Kumta, Karnataka is called Eriocaulon karaavalense (named after Karaavali, Coastal Karnataka region), it said.

Pipeworts (Eriocaulon) is a plant group which completes its life cycle within a small period during monsoon. It exhibits great diversity in Western Ghats.

Around 111 species of pipeworts are found in India. Most of se are reported from Western Ghats and eastern Himalayas, and around 70 per cent of m are endemic to country.

"One species, Eriocaulon cinereum, is well kwn for its anti-cancerous, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and astringent properties. E. quinquangulare is used against liver diseases. E. mayiparense is an anti-bacterial from Kerala.

" medicinal properties of newly discovered species are yet to be explored," DST said.

new species were discovered while exploring biodiversity of Western Ghats.

scientists wanted to trace evolutionary history of genus Eriocaulon and me extensive efforts to collect as many species as possible from India, especially from Western Ghats, DST said.

"While critically examining our collection, we came across two accessions, which showed different floral characters than earlier kwn species. Hence, we studied morphology and its DNA to confirm velty," said Ritesh Kumar Choudhary, le author of a study on new species.

study was published in 'Phytotaxa' and 'Annales Botanici Fennici' journals, DST said.

Identification of species belonging to Eriocaulon is very difficult as y all look similar, which is why genus is often referred to as a 'Taxomist's nightmare'.

Its tiny flowers and seeds make it difficult to distinguish between different species, Choudhary pointed out.

Choudhary's PhD student Ashwini Darshetkar said, "Future studies will focus on elucidating evolutionary history of genus in India. A thorough investigation of phylogenetic relationship between all Indian species would also help in prioritising conservation of threatened species in India." "We are also trying to develop DNA barcodes, which will enable us to identify species with just a portion of leaf," he said. 

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