Team Herald
PANJIM: The researchers have discovered a new flowering plant species on the State plateau, which is likely to be threatened by possible habitat destruction caused by development.
Eriocaulon goaense, a new species of the family Eriocaulaceae, has been found on Goa’s lateritic plateaus by Rutuja Kolte, Indu Yadav and M K Janarthanam of Goa University’s department of Botany.
As mentioned in the scientific journal Phytotaxa, the Eriocaulon goaense plant is found in lateritic plateaus of Goa and differs from earlier known plants in the family. It is different in its floral bracts (modified leaf associated with a flower), sepals and petals of female flowers.
“Eriocaulon goaense is a habitat-specific species, which can only be found during rainy seasons. Nevertheless, more research needs to be done to understand its ecological significance, its uses, its role in the environment, etc,” the study mentioned.
According to the researchers, the species was collected by then student Indu Yadav, in 2010. She had noted its uniqueness but she was unable to carry out further research.
It was later in 2017, that Rutuja Kolte too came across the similar species and it took her nearly three to four years to complete the detail research.
