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Agasthyamalai Plant Diversity

September 23 , 2026 14 hrs 0 min 112 0

A new checklist recorded 3,261 flowering plant species in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR) in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) recorded 3,261 species, 26 subspecies and 28 varieties from 190 families.
Fabaceae is the richest family with 349 taxa, followed by Rubiaceae (194), Poaceae (193) and Orchidaceae (168).
About 1,018 taxa (31.2%) are endemic to India, including 245 found only in specialised habitats.
ABR shares 347 plant taxa with Sri Lanka and has 102 taxa linked to tropical American flora.