Uniyala Keralensis:
Researchers have named the new shrub species, which is endemic to southwest India, Uniyala keralensis (family Asteraceae) after the State of Kerala.
- Uniyala keralensis is a “small to large shrub,” growing up to one to three metres in height and sporting attractive light purple florets, according to the paper.
- Uniyala keralensis has, among other things, larger leaves, fairly long petioles – the slender stalk that joins the leaf to the stem – and fewer lateral veins on the leaves.
- Flowering and fruiting occurs during August to April.
- It is found in open areas of the western mountain slopes of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve (ABR) at elevations ranging between 700 to 1,400 metres.
- The present population consists of nearly 5,000 plants of various ages in four subpopulations occupying an area of 250 square kilometres.
- Following the IUCN Red List Criteria (IUCN 2024), Uniyala keralensis is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).
