Ceropegia Shivrayiana:
A new flowering plant species from ‘ceropegia’ genus has been discovered inside the Vishalgad premises in Maharashtra and named it as Ceropegia Shivrayiana.
- Ceropegia Shivrayiana is a flowering plant species named in a nod to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
- The plant was discovered on one of his renowned forts, Vishalgad.
- It consists of unique, tubular flowers, which are specially adapted to attract moths for pollination.
- This plant thrives in rocky terrains and is capable of growing in less nutrient-or poor soils.
- It belongs to the Asclepiadaceae family, which includes many medicinal plants, with significant ecological importance.
- Its conservation is essential due to the ongoing threat of habitat loss.
Vishalgad Fort
- It is an ancient fort situated at Vishalgad village in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.
- Also called Khelna or Khilna by the locals, Vishalgad Fort was one of the important forts of the Maratha Empire.
- It was built in the year 1058 by Shilahara king Marsinh and was initially known as Khilgil.
