Ophiorrhiza echinata : New coffee plant species
A new coffee plant species named Ophiorrhiza echinata was recently found in the Western Ghats.It is a new species of coffee It was discovered in the highly biodiversity-rich shola forests of the Western Ghats at Devikulam in the Idukki District of Kerala. It grows in the ecotone region between evergreen forest and grassland vegetation at an elevation of 1,630 m above sea level and may have medicinal potential. It belongs to the family Rubiaceae and is closely related to the genus Ophiorrhiza mungos, which is a key ingredient in cancer treatment and antidote preparations.
