Malabar trogon 10(3) sept dec

Vol. 10 (3)

September- December 2012

Vol. 10 (3) September- December 2012

Executive Committee President Dr. T.N. Vijayakumar Secretary Dr. Muhamed Jafer Palot Vice President Mr. Sathyan. N.K Jt. Secretary Mr. C.J. Thomas Treasurer Dr. Muhamed Rafeek A.P.M. Members Dr. Dinesan Cheruvat Dr. K. Kishorekumar Mr. K.G.Bimalnath Mr. V. Syam Mr. S. Arjun Mr. T. Ajithkumar Dr. Vijayanthi Dr. K. Fousy Mr. Muralikrishnan. V.P Dr.Rajesh K.P Mr. O. Jayarajan Mr. Abdul Riyaz. K. Mr. Balakrishnan Valappil Mr. V. Ramakrishnan Mr. Vijesh Vallikunnu Mr. Hameedali Vazhakkad Myna Umaiban

Editor Mr. C. Sashikumar Editorial Board Dr. Dinesan Cheruvat Dr. P.V. Karunakaran Dr. K.P. Rajesh Dr.P. Pramod Mr. Praveen. J Prof. I.G. Bhaskara Panikker Nature Education Officer Dr. K. Kishorekumar Front cover: Pied Avocet Photographer - K.V. Uthaman Layout:Babu Balan Ph: 9633390101 Printing IK Printers, Calicut Ph:9072732636

My first visit to Kattampally wetland, near Kannur, Kerala was in 1979, in my early days of birdwatching. I came to know about this place through Sri. L Namassivayan, to whom late Prof. K K Neelakantan had mentioned about his visits to this place in the early 1970s. Regular birdwatching trips to Kattampally unveiled an exquisite world of wetland birds to me. Rafts of ducks and teals floated in the open water not far from the regulator-cum-road bridge of the Kattampally Irrigation Project, extending several kilometers towards southeast through the water channel. Clouds of birds rose in the horizon as the fishermen rowed their boats through the channel. Every visit had a few surprises in store: a small group of Glossy Ibis, rare in those days, a lone Greater Flamingo, Oriental Pratincole‌ Many of these sightings were first records for Kerala, like several others to follow later. The paddy fields on the banks were under cultivation and fishing was mostly for sustenance, not very much commercial. An ethereal rustic atmosphere prevailed. The local people were friendly and went their way without disturbing the birds.

This state of affairs continued till the end of 1980s. By this time, paddy cultivation was abandoned in most parts of the locality due to various reasons and for many of the farmers, the land became an 'unproductive' liability. It was clear to all concerned that the much flaunted irrigation project was a big failure; more discussions on how to make it 'viable' followed, but none turned into action. The land lay fallow, overgrown with reeds and grasses. In the meantime, the landowners began selling their land; parts of the wetland were filled up and school buildings, stone crushers and factories came up. The first decade of the 21st century saw the wetland being fragmented irreparably. Three bridges came up within six kilometers of the river and the approach roads to these bridges were constructed cutting across the wetland without any provision for drainage of water. The scenario that would follow was predictable: land price along the new roads shot up, construction activities increased and the death knell of the wetland was sounded once and for all. Except for a few nature lovers, none were concerned.

Interestingly, one of the several panchayaths to which the wetland extended declared their part of the wetland as a bird sanctuary recently. Apart from the futility of conserving a small portion of a large wetland ecosystem, the would-be planners were interested in building more structures foot paths, watch towers etc. to observe the birds and to attract tourists.

But all is not lost, yet. Birds have not totally deserted this wetland, as the birdwatchers who still visit here will tell you. What is needed is a strong political will to leave alone the remaining part of the wetland by banning alteration of land use. If the authorities do not act now, the destiny of this Important Bird Area is doomed.

Probably, every wetland in Kerala has a similar story.

C Sashikumar Membership details: Ordinary - Rs.100/-, Life - Rs.1000/-, Institutional - Rs.250/Student - Rs.50/-(upto 12th standard) Contact Address: Malabar Natural History Society Sushila Mandir B.G Road, Nadakkavu P.O. Calicut - 673 011, Ph: 09447470439 Email: malabartrogon@gmail.com www.malabarnhs.org

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Butterfly diversity in the different habitats of Vazhachal-Athirappilly Reserve Forest 1

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C. Susanth and Rajasree V V “Prakrithi”, SNRA-20, Indira Nagar, Perrorkada P.O, Thiruvananthapuram-695005, Kerala.

Email c.susanth@gmail.com, 2 “Neeranjanam”, Kavil, Kodakara P.O, Thrissur -680684, Kerala. Email rajasreevv@gmail.com 1

Introduction All butterflies are associated with plants and therefore their occurrence depends on the presence of plants and distinct vegetation types. The forest vegetation types such as Evergreen, Evergreen Shola, Semi-evergreen, Riparian and Moist Deciduous are particularly important to butterflies. Many of the trees in these forests are used by butterflies either as nectar plants or as larval host plants. Destruction, degradation or fragmentations of these forests are the most worrying causes that endanger butterflies. The present paper is on the butterfly diversity of Vazhachal-Athirappilly Reserve forest. The findings presented are based on the butterfly surveys carried out from 1995 to 2012 in different seasons.

Vazhachal-Athirappilly Reserve Forest Vazhachal-Athirappilly Reserve Forest (10o15’ - 10o 45’ N; 76 o 35’ -76 o 55’ E) is part of the Vazhachal forest division in the southern Western Ghats. Vazhachal Division in the Chalakudy river basin is extremely rich in biodiversity and has a very high conservation value of around 75 %, considering the floristic species richness, floristic and faunal endemic zone, unique eco systems, and mammal density (IFP, 2000). The Vazhachal Division has been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA - IN 253).

According to Amitabachan (2010) the low elevation riparian area possesses 80 endemic plants and 24 rare and endangered plant species.

Butterflies of Vazhachal-Athirappilly RF The Vazhachal- Athirappilly RF includes large tracts of tropical rain forests, moist deciduous forest, wet evergreen and semi evergreen forests. The area also consists of a continuous stretch of rich riparian wet evergreen forest. All these habitats support a good butterfly population in the area. 223 species of butterflies have been observed in the study from this area.

Butterflies in the Riparian forest Riparian forest has a special significance for butterflies. These are moister than the surrounding patches and remain lush green even in the summer. The butterflies concentrate in the riparian patches during the dry months because all the mud puddling sites and nectar sources are available only here. Out of the 223 species observed, 161 species were from the riparian forest patch. Congregations of thousands of butterflies were observed on the riverside mud-puddling sites. Mottled Emigrant, Chocolate Albatross, Common Albatross, Blue Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, Striped Tiger, Double Banded Crow and Common Crow were the important species in the congregation sites. Apart from these, 16 species also were observed mudpuddling in smaller numbers: Common Blue-Bottle, Common Jay, Malabar Banded Swallowtail, Southern Birdwing, Great Orangetip, Plain Puffin, Painted Sawtooth, Common Ciliate Blue, Pointed Ciliate Blue, Angled Pierrot, Banded Blue Pierrot, Common Pierrot, Common Line Blue, Dark Pierrot, Quaker and Malayan.

Many riparian plant species are the larval host plants for many species of butterflies. Great Orange tip, Chocolate Albatross, Stripped Albatross, Commander are some of those butterflies which directly depend on riparian vegetation for the larval host plants.

Butterflies in Evergreen, Semi-Evergreen and Deciduous forests A total of 113 species were recorded from the Evergreen patches, 83 species were recorded from the Semi Evergreen patches and 72 species were recorded from the deciduous patches of the reserve forest.

71 species were recorded from the forest clearings and openings associated with these forest patches.

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Butterfly Species No.

Endemic and rare butterflies Out of the 37 endemic butterflies of the Western Ghats 21 were observed in the study (Table 1).

Table 1.

Sl No. Common name 1 Malabar Rose 2 Malabar Raven 3 Malabar Banded Swallowtail 4 Malabar Banded Peacock 5 Lesser Albatross 6 Shivas Sunbeam 7 Western Centaur Oak blue 8 Tamil Oak blue 9 Plane 10 Malabar Flash 11 Nilgiri Tiger 12 Malabar Tree Nymph 13 Travancore Evening Brown 14 Small Long-brand Bushbrown 15 Tamil Catseye 16 Nilgiri Fourring 17 Tamil Spotted Flat 18 Bicolour Ace 19 Golden Flitter 20 Madras Ace 21 Southern Spotted Ace

Scientific Name Pachliopta pandiyana Papilio dravidarum Papilio liomedon Papilio Buddha Appias wardi Curetis siva Arhopala pseudocentaurus Arhopala bazaloides Bindahara phocides Rapala lankana Parantica nilgirensis Idea malabarica Parantirrhoea marshalli Mycalesis igilia Zipaetis saitis Ypthima chenui Celaenorrhinus ruficornis Sovia hyrtacus Quedara basiflava Halpe honorei Thoressa astigmata

A total of 14 species of rare butterflies were recorded from the area. Tamil Oak Blue (Arhopala bazaloides)and Blue Nawab (Polyura schreiber) were two of the very rare butterflies observed. Other rare butterflies include Spot Puffin, Common Banded Peacock, Malabar Banded Peacock, Dark Pierrot, Large Four-Line Blue, Scarce shot Silverline, Malabar Flash, Orchid tit, Travancore Evening Brown, Sullid Sailor, Tamil Dartlet and Maculate Lancer.

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Threatened species Eight species observed in the area are listed under threatened category according to the IUCN Red data list (Table 2.).

Table 2.

Common Name Southern Birdwing Malabar Rose Malabar Raven Malabar Banded Swallowtail Malabar Banded Peacock Nilgiri Tiger Malabar Tree Nymph Travancore Evening Brown

Scientific Name Troides minos Pachliopta pandiyana Papilio dravidarum Papilio liomedon Papilio buddha Parantica nilgirensis Idea malabarica Parantirrhoea marshalli

Species under Schedule I and II of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. Four out of the five butterfly species recorded from Kerala listed in the Schedule I of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act were observed in this area, viz. Blue Nawab Polyura Schreibe, Danaid Eggfly Hypolimnas misippus, Malabar Banded Swallowtail Papilio liomedon and Crimson Rose Pachliopta hector.

Twenty among the 22 butterfly species recorded from Kerala listed in the Schedule II of Indian wildlife Protection Act are observed in this area (Table 3.) .

Table 3.

Common Name Scientific Name Southern Duffer Discophora lepida Common Beak Libythea lepita Small Leopard Phalanha alcippe Common Baron Euthalia aconthea Grey count Tanaecia lepidea Great Evening Brown Melantis zitenius White Bar Bush brown Mycalesis anaxias Tamil Oak Blue Arhopala bazaloides Pea Blue Lampides boeticus Indigo Flash Papala varuna Scarce Shot Silverline Spindasis elima Long banded Silverline Spindasis lohita Peacock royal Tajuria cippus Many tailed Oak Blue Thaduka multicaudata Malabar Banded Peacock Papilio Buddha Common Albarross Appias albina Chocalate Albatross Appias lyncida Lesser Albatross Appias wardi Lesser Gull Cepora nadina Common Wanderer Pareronia valeria

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Migratory Species Butterflies move or migrate from one place to another over a considerable distance for several reasons including seasonal changes or shortage of food plants. Vazhachal-Athirappilly RF is also a migratory path for butterflies. Migration of butterflies in December-January and in March –April has been observed here. Common Crows, Double –banded Crows, Blue Tigers, Dark Blue tigers, Striped Tigers along with few numbers of Brown King Crows and Common Rose in large numbers were observed to migrate in December and January. Migration of thousands of Albatrosses and Emigrants were observed in March- April and their congregations in large numbers (1000-3000) were seen near Vazhachal waterfalls. Twenty eight among the 223 species observed in the area are known to migrate (Table 4.).

Checklist of the butterflies of Vazhachal –Athirappilly Reserve Forest is given in Table 5.

Table 4.

Migratory species 14 Pioneer 1.

Brown Awl 15 Dark Cerulean 2.

Small branded Swift 16 Pea Blue 3 Lime Butterfly 17 Blue Tiger 4 Common Rose 18 Dark blue Tiger 5 Crimson rose 19 Stripped Tiger 6 Small grass Yellow 20 Plain Tiger 7 Common Grass yellow 21 Glassy Tiger 8 Mottled Emigrant 23 Double-branded Crow 9 Common Emigrant 24 Brown King Crow 10 Stripped Albatross 25 Common Crow 11 Chocolate albatross 26 Yellow Pansy 12 Common albatross 27 Chocalate Pansy 13 Common gull 28 Great Eggfly Table 5.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Checklist of Butterflies in Vazhachal -Athirapilly Reserve Forest

Common Name Family : Papilionidae : Swallowtails Southern Birdwing Common Rose Crimson Rose Malabar Rose Common Blue Bottle Common Jay Tailed Jay Spot Swordtail Five-bar Swordtail Common Mime Common Mormon Malabar Raven Red Helen Blue Mormon Malabar Banded Swallowtail Lime Butterfly Paris Peacock

Scientific Name Troides minos Pachliopta aristolochiae Atrophaneura hectar Pachliopta pandiyana Graphium sarpedon Graphium doson Graphium Agamemnon Graphium nomius Graphium antiphates Papilio clytia Papilio polytes Papilio dravidarum Papilio helenus Papilio polymnestor Papilio liomedon Papilio demoleus Papilio paris

6 18 Common Banded Peacock 19 Malabar Banded Peacock Family : Pieridae : Whites and Yellows 20 One Spot Grass Yellow 21 Three Spot Grass Yellow 22 Small Grass Yellow 23 Common Grass Yellow 24 Spotless Grass Yellow 25 Common Emigrant 26 Mottled Emigrant 27 Great Orange Tip 28 Dark Wanderer 29 Common Wanderer 30 Striped Albatross 31 Chocolate Albatross 32 Plain Puffin 33 Common Albatross 34 Spot Puffin 35 Lesser Albatross 36 Common Gull 37 Lesser Gull 38 Painted Sawtooth 39 Common Jezebel 40 Psyche 41 Pioneer Family : Lycaenidae : Blues 42 Apefly 43 Indian Sunbeam 44 Shivas Sunbeam 45 Western Centaur Oak blue 46 Large Oak blue 47 Tamil Oak blue 48 Aberrant Oakblue 49 Many-tailed Oakblue 50 Common Acacia Blue 51 Red Spot 52 Leaf Blue 53 Silverstreak Blue 54 Yamfly 55 Monkey Puzzle 56 Common Imperial 57 Peacock Royal 58 Fluffy Tit 59 Orchid Tit

Malabar Trogon -Vol. 10(3) . 2012 Papilio crino Papilio Buddha Eurema andersoni Eurema blanda Eurema brigitta Eurema hecabe Eurema laeta Catopsilia pomona Catopsila pyranthe Hebomoia glaucippe Pareronia ceylanica Pareronia valeria Appias libythea Appias lyncida Appias indra Appias albina Appias lalage Appias wardi Cepora nerissa Cepora nadina Prioneris sita Delias eucharis Leptosia nina Belenois aurota Spalgis epius Curetis thetis Curetis siva Arhopala pseudocentaurus Arhopala amantes Arhopala bazaloides Arhopala abseus Thaduka multicaudata Surendra quercetorum Zesius chrysomallus Amblypodia anita Iraota timoleon Loxura atymnus Rathinda amor Cheritra freja Tajuria cippus Zeltus amasa Chilaria othona

Malabar Trogon -Vol. 10(3) . 2012 60 Plane Bindahara phocides 61 Indian Red Flash Rpala airbus 62 Slate Flash Rapala manea 63 Indigo Flash Papala varuna 64 Malabar Flash Rapala lankana 65 Long-banded Silverline Spindasis lohita 66 Common Silverline Spindasis vulcanus 67 Plumbeous Silverline Spindasis schistacea 68 Scarce Shot Silverline Spindasis elima 69 Common Ciliate Blue Anthene emolus 70 Pointed Ciliate Blue Anthene lycaenina 71 Angled Pierrot Caleta caleta 72 Banded Blue Pierrot Discolampa ethion 73 Common Pierrot Castalius rosimon 74 Zebra Blue Leptotes plinius 75 Large 4-Lineblue Nacaduba pactolus 76 Transparent 6-Lineblue Nacaduba kurava 77 Opaque 6-Lineblue Nacaduba beroe 78 Common Line Blue Prosotas nora 79 Dark Cerulean Jamides bochus 80 Common Cerulean Jamides celeno 81 Metallic Cerulean Jamides alecto 82 Forget-Me-Not Catochrysops strabo 83 Pea Blue Lampides boeticus 84 Dark Pierrot Tarucus ananda 85 Dark Grass Blue Zizeeria karsandra 86 Pale Grass Blue Pseudozizeeria maha 87 Grass Jewel Freyeria trochylus 88 Lesser Grass Blue Zisina otis 89 Tiny Grass Blue Zizula hylax 90 Indian Cupid Everes lacturnus 91 Red Pierrot Talicada nyseus 92 Quaker Neopithecops zalmora 93 Malayan Megisba Malaya 94 Gram Blue Euchrysops cnejus 95 Common Hedge Blue Acytolepis puspa 96 White Hedge Blue Udara akasa 97 Large Hedge Blue Celastrina huegelii 98 Plains Cupid Chilades pandava 99 Lime Blue Chilades lajus 100 Plum Judy Abisara echerius Family : Nymphalidae : Brush-footed Butterflies 101 Common Beak Libythea lepita 102 Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace

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8 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146

Dark Blue Tiger Striped Tiger Plain Tiger Glassy tiger Nilgiri Tiger Double-branded Crow Brown King Crow Common Crow Malabar Tree Nymph Common Nawab Anomalous Nawab Blue Nawab Tawny Rajah Black Rajah Southern Duffer Dark Evening Brown Great Evening Brown Travancore Evening Brown Bamboo Treebrown Common Treebrown Tamil Treebrown Common Palmfly Whitebar Bushbrown Common Bush Brown Dark-brand Bushbrown Small Long-brand Bushbrown Gladeye Bushbrown Nigger Tamil Catseye Common Fivering White Fourring Common Fouring Nilgiri Fourring Tawny Coster Tamil Lacewing Cruiser Tamil Yeoman Rustic Small Leopard Common Leopard Commander Common Sergeant Blackvein Sergeant Staff Sergeant

Tirumala septentrionis Danaus genutia Danaus chrysippus Parantica aglea Parantica nilgirensis Euploea Sylvester Euloea klugii Euploea core Idea malabarica Polyuara athmas Polyura agrarian Polyura Schreiber Charaxes bernadus Charaxes solon Discophora lepida Melanitis phedima Melantis zitenius Parantirrhoea marshalli Lethe eruopa Lethe rohria Lethe drypetis Elymnias hypermnestra Mycalesis anaxias Mycalesis perseus Mycalesis mineus Mycalesis igilia Mycalesis patina Orsotrioena medius Zipaetis saitis Ypthima baldus Ypthima ceylonica Ypthima huebneri Ypthima chenui Acraea violae Cethosia nietneri Vindula erota Cirrochroa thais Cupha erymanthis Phalanha alcippe Phalanta phalantha Moduza procris Athyma perius Athyma ranga Athyma selenophora

Malabar Trogon -Vol. 10(3) . 2012 147 Colour Sergeant 148 Common Lascar 149 Chestnut-Streaked Sailer 150 Common Sailer 151 Sullid Sailer 152 Clipper 153 Grey Count 154 Common Baron 155 Gaudy Baron 156 Baronet 157 Common Map 158 Angled Castor 159 Common Castor 160 Black Prince 161 Painted Lady 162 Blue Admiral 163 Indian Red Admiral 164 Blue Pansy 165 Yellow Pansy 166 Choclate Pansy 167 Grey Pansy 168 Peacock Pansy 169 Lemon Pansy 170 Great Eggfly 171 Daniad Egglfy 172 Blue Oakleaf 173 Autumn Leaf Family : Hesperiidae : Skippers 174 Orange Awlet 175 Orange-Tail-Awl 176 Common Banded Awl 177 White Banded Awl 178 Common Awl 179 Brown Awl 180 Tamil Spotted Flat 181 Malabar Spotted Flat 182 Common Spotted Flat 183 Indian Skipper 184 Angled Flat 185 Common Small Flat 186 Spotted Small Flat 187 Fulvous Pied Flat 188 Tricoloured Pied Flat 189 Suffused Snow Flat

9 Athyma nefte Pantoporia hordonia Neptis jumbah Neptis hylas Neptis soma Parthenos Sylvia Tanaecia lepidea Euthalia aconthea Euthalia lubentina Euthalia nais Cyrestis thyodamas Ariadne ariadne Ariadne merione Rohana parisatis Vanessa cardui Kaniska canace Vanessa Indica Junonia orithiya Junonia hierta Junonia iphita Junonia atlites Junonia almanac Junonia lemonias Hypolimnas bolina Hypolimnas misippus Kallima horsfieldi Doleschallia bisaltide Bibasis jaina Bibasis sena Hasora chromus Hasora taminatus Hasora badra Badamia exclamationis Celaenorrhinus ruficornis Celaenorrhinus ambareesa Celaenorrhinus keycicera Spialia galba Tapena twaithesi Satangesa dasahara Sarngesa purendra Pseudocoladenia dan Coladenia indrani Tagiades gana

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10 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223

Common Snow Flat Water Snow Flat Chestnug Angle Golden Angle Tamil Grass Dart Common Grass Dart Common Dartlet Tamil Dartlet Dark Palm Dart Pale Palm Dart Straight Swift Rice Swift Bevan’s Swift Paint brush Swift Small Branded Swift Conjoined Swift Bicolour Ace Indian palm Bob Tree Flitter Golden Flitter Maculate Lancer Giant Redeye Common Redeye Chestnut Bob Coon Restricted Demon Common Banded Demon Grass Demon Pigmy Scrub Hopper Indian Ace Moore’s Ace Madras Ace Southern Spotted Ace Bush Hopper

Taguades haoetys Tadiades litigiosa Odontoptilum angulata Caprona ransonnetti Taractrocera ceramas Taractrocera maevius Oriens goloides Oriens concinna Telicota ancilla Telicota colon Parnara guttatus Borbo cinnara Pseudoborbo bevani Baoris farri Pelopidas mathias Pelopidas conjuncta Sovia hyrtacus Suastus gremius Hyarotis adrastus Quedara basiflava Salanoemia sala Gangara thyrsis Matapa aria Iambrix salsala Sancus fuligo Notocrypta curvifascia Notocrypta paralysos Udaspes folus Aeromachus pygmaeus Halpe homolea Halpe porus Halpe honorei Thoressa astigmata Ampittia dioscorides

References Amithabachan, 2010. Riparian flora of the Chalakkudy River Basin and its ecological significance. PhD Thesis, Dept. of Botany, University of Calicut, Kerala, India IFP.2000. Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for Kerala prepared by French Institute of Pondicherry for the Kerala Forest and WLD Kunte, Krushnamekh. 2000. Butterflies of Peninsular India, University Press, Hydrabad NBFGR.2000. Annual Report (1999-2000) of National Bureau of fish Genetic Resources (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

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New distribution records of the invasive termite Cryptotermes dudleyi Banks (Kalotermitidae) from Kerala, along with a report on its attack Amina Poovoli and Rajmohana K Zoological Survey of India, Western Ghat Regional Centre, Calicut, Kerala-673006, India E-mails: aminapoovoli@gmail.com, mohana.skumar@gmail.com Introduction During late March and early April-2013, in a couple of houses located at Calicut, Kerala, we happened to observe on the floor, a few piles of small pellets (size varying from, 0.77-0.81mm in length and 0.46-0.52 mm in width) (Fig.1).The pellet piles were just underneath two sofa sets at one instance (Fig.2-3), whereas it was on the staircase landing at the other (Fig.4). In both cases, the pellets were being accumulated on the floor regularly, though at a very slow pace. On a detailed examination of the furniture and also the wooden pole of the stairs, we could see numerous very minute holes, just about the size of a pin head (Fig.5), which resembled the attack by Bostrychid beetles (Chaudhry, 1955; Sen-Sarma and Mathur, 1957; Sen-Sarma et al., 1975; Thakur, 1988). In an attempt to shift the position of the sofa, one of its legs gave away, indicating that the furniture was in a real bad shape. Even though the woody parts appeared undamaged externally, we later realised that the inner part was almost hollow, with extensive network of excavations and irregular galleries, which were full of small pellets. By carefully probing the damaged area, we could notice a few mature termite colonies and also some incipient ones, from where we could recover a few live individuals, belonging to all the castes soldiers, winged alates and also the worker-like pseudergates. On a detailed taxonomic analysis using the keys and description in Roonwal and Chhotani (1989), the termites were identified as Cryptotermes dudleyi Banks, 1918, the Drywood termite, commonly called as the American powder post termite, a species infamous as one of the prominent global invasives (Evans, 2010) and a major pest of structural wood in buildings. Most of the earlier reports of occurrence of C. dudleyi are from structural wood, in buildings (Thakur, 1984) and records of C. dudleyi, from household furniture in India is scarce.

Distribution and damage of Cryptotermes dudleyi Banks As per Scheffrahn 1999, C. dudleyi is the second-most widespread species of Cryptotermes after C. brevis (Walker, 1853). It originated from Southeast Asia and spread to India across the islands of the Indian Ocean to East Africa. It has been reported from Australian, Ethiopian, Neotropical, Oriental and Papuan regions. In the Oriental region, the species is known from East Andalas (Sumatra), Bangladesh, Java, India, South East Kalimantan (Borneo), Malaya, Philippines and Srilanka (Thakur, 1984). From India it has been reported from the Andaman Islands, Union territory of Daman, Goa, Orissa, West Bengal and Kerala (Thakur, 1984).The newly documented distribution localities; lie in Calicut, along the same coast line, where Cannanore and Alleppey, the places of earlier report of C. dudleyi are located.

C. dudleyi enter structural wood of buildings or wooden furniture through small cracks or holes on the surface or at corners. The wood infested gets completely riddled with interconnected galleries and excavations and are totally destroyed within a short period. Bamboo rafters or matted walls in houses are

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also seriously attacked (Haojie et.al. 2002). The external sign of damage or infestation of the drywood termites are limited to the presence of fecal pellets underneath the infested wood.

Diagnosis of C. dudleyi Because termite worker castes of different species are at times morphologically indistinguishable from each other, most termite keys rely on characteristics of both soldiers and alates for species identification (Brammer and Scheffrahn, 2002).

Head capsule of the soldier yellowish brown and blackish anteriorly, mandibles nearly black; antennae and labrum yellowish brown and paler than head capsule, legs and body whitish yellow to pale brown. Pronotum is dark brown at its anterior margin and with whitish line medially from thorax to abdomen.

The soldiers of C. dudleyi (4.6-5.1mm) (Fig.6) can easily be distinguished from other species by their elongate head, which is nearly1.2x-1.3x longer than wide, somewhat rugose. Frons slope from vertex so that it is visible from above, frontal flange is narrow, elevated and medially notched (Fig.7).

Mandibles long, narrow, blade-like and hooked at tip, not covered by labrum, basal hump very weak; genal horns distinct as anterolateral protuberances well visible when viewed from above. Antennae have 12 segments; second segment smaller than first; third segment nearly subequal to second and fourth segment shortest.

Alates 9-9.3mm long (Fig.8), with head capsule yellowish brown; labrum, antennae and legs pale brown; thorax and abdominal segments slightly paler than head; sternites brownish white; wings have a pale brownish tinge (Fig.9). Head and body moderately hairy. Antennae with 17 segments; second segment a little longer than half of first, while third segment is as long as fourth.

Biology Drywood termites of genus Cryptotermes do not need any contact with the ground other than the wood in which they live. They may exist within the wooden structures undetected for years. Presence of pellets underneath the infested wood is the main indication of their infestation (Horwood, 2008). Their colonies develop only slowly, the entire colony may take five years or more to mature (Brammer and

Malabar Trogon -Vol. 10(3) . 2012 Scheffrahn, 2002). A true worker caste is not present; the immatures termed as pseudergates, and do the usual work of worker caste. The swarming of alates is from March-May (Roonwal and Chhotani, 1989; personal observation).

Material examined 10 soldiers, 10 imagoes and 10 pseudoworkers of two colonies.

INDIA: Kerala: Kozhikode: Muthuvadathur, (11⁰39′20.55″N, 75⁰37′44.55″E) 01-v-2013, (Reg. no: ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/2634), coll. Amina Poovoli., from wooden parts of sofa And Vellimadukunnu, (11⁰17′45.72″N, 75⁰49′17.12″E), 22-iv-2013, (Reg. no: ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/2635). Amina Poovoli from a wooden post of staircase.

All specimens are deposited in the National Zoological Collections at Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kozhikode, and Kerala.

Remarks Genus Cryptotermes Banks (1906) is one of the most economically important groups of dry-wood termites. They are commonly known as powder-post termites, due to the coarse sand-like fecal pellets they extrude at the sites of their attack. The native species infest the dead and dry portion of living trees in nature, whereas the introduced species attack the woodworks in buildings, household furniture and other wooden structures (introduced species) (Thakur, 1984). Krishna et al. (2013) listed 69 living species of Cryptotermes worldwide, with 19 from Oriental region; 5 species are known from India, of which two species C. domesticus (Haviland, 1898) and C. dudleyi are listed as invasive species attacking structural wood in buildings.

Management Soil treatment, either with liquid insecticides or termite baits prove ineffective against drywood termites since they live inside the wood, never having any ground-contacts. Localised treatments include inoculating insecticides directly into the termite gallery through drilling holes or into the kick-out holes.

But if the infestation is too extensive, tenting and fumigation of the entire building is often advised (Oi et al., 1993). Oil-based chlorinated chemicals like lindane, chloroprin etc can be used as wood protectors.

Filling all cracks and crevices with putty and then applying a good coat of paint is also one of the preventive measures. Replacing the damaged wood can be the only solution, if detected late.

Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to the Director, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata and the Officer-in-Charge, ZSI, Western Ghats Regional Centre, Calicut, Kerala, for support and encouragement.

References Banks, N. 1906. Two new termites. Entomological News 17 (9): 336-337.

Banks, N. 1918.The termites of Panama and British Guiana. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 38 (17): 659-667 + 1 Pl. Brammer, A.S and R.H.Scheffrahn.2002.Introduction-Disriburtion and History Identification-Life Cycle and Biology-Damage-Management-Selected References, University of Florida: EENY-279 Chaudhry, G.U. 1955.Notes on a collection of termites from Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Forestry, 51(1): 40-43.

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Evans, T. A. 2010. Invasive termites. In D.E. Bignell, Y. Roisin, and N. Lo (editors), Biology of termites: a modern synthesis: 519-562. Dordrecht: Springer, xiv + 576 pp.

Haojie, W, Wang, H and R. V. Varma.2002.Insect Pest of Bamboos in Asia, An illustrated manual: 200pp.

Haviland, G.D. 1898.Observations on termites, with descriptions of new species. Journal of the Linnaean Society of London, Zoology 26 (169): 358-442 + 4 pls.

Horwood, M. 2008. West Indian drywood termite. Primefacts. Profitable and Sustainable Primary Industries, www.dpi.nsw.au.

Krishna, Kumar, Grimaldi, David. A., Krishna, Valerie, Engel, Michael S. 2013. “Treatise on the Isoptera of the world”. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no .377, date posted :( http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/ handle/2246/6430).

Oi, F. M, R.H Scheffrahn, W. Kern and K. C. Ruppert. 2008. Drywood and Dampwood Termites.University of Florida, IFAS Extension, ENY-211, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

Roonwal, M. L, and O. B. Chhotani. 1989. The fauna of India and adjacent countries.

Isoptera (termites). (Introduction and families Termopsidae, Hodotermitidae, Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Stylotermitidae and Indotermitidae).Vol. 1. Calcutta: Zoological Survey of India, [8] + viii + 672 pp.

Scheffrahn, R. H, and J. Křeček. 1999. Termites of the genus Cryptotermes Banks (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) from the West Indies. Insecta Mundi 13 (34): 111171.

Sen-Sarma, P. K. and R. N. Mathur. 1957. Further record of occurrence of Cryptotermes dudleyi (Banks) in India (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae). Current Science, 26 (12), p. 399.

Sen-Sarma, P. K, Thakur, M.L, Mishra, S.C, Gupta, B. K.1975. Studies on wood-destroying termites inrelation to natural termite resistance of wood. Final Technical Report, PL 480 Project A- 7-58 (1968-73), Dehra Dun, India.

Thakur, R. K.1984.Additions to the termite fauna of the Thar Desert. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society.81 (2): 496-497.

Thakur, M. L. 1988. Current status of termites as pest of bamboos and their control. Indian Forester, 114 (10), 720-725.

Walker, F. 1853. List of the specimens of neuropterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part III (TermitidaeEphemeridae). London: Trustees of the British Museum, [4] + 477-585 pp.

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Explanations to figures

Fig. 1. Pellets of C.dudleyi

Fig. 2. C.dudleyi attack on wooden part of sofa

Fig. 3. Pseudergates of C.dudleyi from the damaged site in sofa

Fig. 4. C.dudleyi attack on the post of the staircase

Fig. 5. Kick-out holes on leg of sofa

Fig. 6. C.dudleyi soldier

Fig. 7. Soldier frontal part of Head

Fig. 8. C.dudleyi alate

Fig. 9. Forewing of alate

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Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta (Middendorff, 1853) from Kole wetlands, Thrissur - First photographic record from Kerala, South India Tomy Francis1, P. P. Sreenivasan2, Gnanakumar.M.3, Sandeep Das4 1 Department of Zoology, St. Aloysius College, Elthuruth, Thrissur.

2 B-27, Guruvayur, Dewasom Quarters, Puthanpally, Thrissur.

3 Ramnivas, Chittur, Palakkad.

4 Santhi Nivas, Chembukkavu, Thrissur.

Corresponding author: sandeep.koodu@gmail.com

As a part of monitoring the trends in bird movements, in accordance with the agricultural practices in Kole wetlands, Thrissur district, periodic surveys were conducted from the year 2008 to 2011. On 1 October 2008, while doing a point count, the authors came across a flock of waders at Adat Kolefield (10°32'01.33”N, 76°09'42.23”E). The locality is a part of Vemband-KoleRamsar site and well known for its bird life and brackish water paddy practices (Shivaperuman and Jayson, 2000). The rice field was waterlogged and the annual water draining for the year's rice cultivation was also happening.The mixed flock of waders consisted of mainly of Greater Sand Plovers (Charadrius leschenaultii), Lesser Sand Plovers (Charadrius mongolus), and Stints (Calidrsis sp.). Among these, 17 birds were found different of which one bird was photographed. Later with the help of field guides (Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005, Grimmet et.al., 1998) the bird was identified as Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta). The observed individual had prominent streaks on the sides of the breast with blackish bill, a distinct whitish supercilium and relatively long yellowish green legs (Fig. 1). Long neck with an upright posture unlike the other stints (Fig. 2) further confirmed the identity of species.The same flock probably, with 14 Longtoed Stints was again sighted the very next day from the same field.

Four species of Stints (Calidris sp.), one of the small waders, are known to winter in India viz.

Little Stint, Calidris minuta, Rufous- necked Stint, C. ruficollis, Temminck's Stint, C. temminckii and Long-toed Stint, C. subminuta. Of these, Long-toed Stint is a winter visitor to the east coast, Gujarat and eastern India (Ali and Ripley, 1983, Kumar et al., 2005). A few specimens were also collected from Bihar (George, 1962) and in Gulf of Mannar National Park, Tamil Nadu (Balachandran, 1995). Presumably, the present report forms the first photographic record of this rare winter visitor from Kerala. Earlier there were two records of this bird from Kerala. One was report of a single bird among a group of other waders at Vembanad Lake, Kottayam district in January 2007 (Sathyan and Tim Inskipp as cited in Sashikumaret al. 2011) and the other of a single bird from Maranchery Kole fields, Kunnamkulam, Thrissur district Kerala (Ravindran P K. Pers.comm., September 2012).

Acknowledgements We are grateful to Praveen J, Mike Prince, C Sashikumar and Dipu K for helping with the identification. We also thank Muhammed Jafer Palot for reviewing the manuscript and Ravindran P K for providing the information regarding the previous records.

References Ali, S. and S.D.Ripley. 1983. Handbook of Birds of India and Pakistan. Compact Edition. Oxford University Press., New Delhi.

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Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C., &Inskipp, T., 1998. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent.1st ed. London: Christopher Helm, A & C Black.

Kumar, A., Sati, J.P., Tak, P.C and J.R.B. Alfred. 2005. Handbook on Indian Wetland Birds and their Conservaiton.Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. st

Rasmussen, P. C., & Anderton, J. C., 2005. Birds of South Asia: the Ripley guide: field guide. 2 vols. 1 ed.

Washington, D.C. and Barcelona:Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions.

Sashikumar, C., Praveen J., Palot, M. J., &Nameer, P. O., 2011.Birds of Kerala: Status and Distribution. 1st ed. Kottayam, Kerala: DC Books.

Sivaperuman, C and E.A. Jayson. 2000. Birds of Kole Wetlands, Thrissur, Kerala. Zoos'Print Journal.

15(10): 344-349.

1

2

3

Fig.1-3 : Photographs of Long- Toed Stint from Kole wetlands of Thrissur

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Whether the exotic earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg, 1867) is displacing native species in Kerala S. Prasanth Narayanan1*, S. Sathrumithra1, G. Christopher1, J.M. Julka2 and A.P. Thomas1 1 Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Studies (ACESSD), School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills. Kottayam - 686560, Kerala.* Email narayanankc@gmail.com 2 Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.

The effects and implications of invasive species in below ground terrestrial ecosystems are not well known compared to above ground terrestrial and marine ecosystems (Gonzalez et al., 2006). In this note, we are reporting on the collection of exotic earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg, 1867) from Kerala.

E. eugeniae is an earthworm indigenous to Africa (Dominguez et al., 2001). More precisely it is found in tropical West Africa, from Ghana to Nigeria to West Cameroon and Gabon (Gates, 1972; Oboh et al., 2007). But its range has been extended throughout the tropics, presumably as a result of transportation by man since 1500 CE (Gates, 1972). At present this species is being cultured in farms worldwide for various purposes such as fish bait market and for making compost from organic waste (Dominguez et al., 2001).

Julka (2008) stated that this species is not found in natural habitats within the Indian limits. Stephenson (1923) in his book 'Fauna of British India - Oligochaeta' mentioned that Fedarb's E. eugeniae specimen might have come from Travancore, Poona (Pune) or north Konkan. Aiyer (1929) did an extensive study on the oligochaetes of the erstwhile Princely State of Travancore, but he failed to collect any individual of E. eugeniae from Travancore. Hence, Stephenson's (1923) report becomes the sole record for the presence of this species from India in the 20th century. But recently it has been collected from the Chennai region (Begum and Ismail, 2004), shaded grassland and muddy areas of Chandigarh (Dhiman and Battish, 2006) and from the gully systems of Sir Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry (Pondicherry) (Julka, 2008).

Since 2010, as part of our ongoing study on the earthworm diversity of Kerala, we collected samples from around 160 localities and obtained E. eugeniae specimens from four sites. They were identified using the key prepared by Julka (2008) and later confirmed by J.M. Julka. E. eugeniae specimens examined were deposited in the earthworm laboratory of the Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. Among the four locations two were in Idukki district and one each in Thiruvananthapuram and Pathanamthitta districts.

Diagnosis: relatively smaller sized earthworm; darkly pigmented, restricted to dorsum; setae lumbricine, closely paired; clitellum faintly indicated in segments xiii, xiv-xviii; genital markings, typhlosole and caeca none; gizzard in v; intestine origin close to 14/15; dorsal blood vessels aborted in front of hearts of vii; hearts, of vii lateral, of viii-xi latero-esophageal; testis sacs, unpaired, ventral; prostates long, ducts short and slender but muscular; copulatory chamber large, containing penis, apertures in transverse slits, slightly in front of inter-segmental furrows 17/18.

Malabar Trogon -Vol. 10(3). 2012 Materials examined: 0-0-7, Parackal Estate – Rajappara, Idukki district, Habitat: Garden land within a cardamom plantation, 12 January 2011, Collectors: S.P. Narayanan, G. Christopher, K. Sreedharan, and T.K. Subash, Reg. No. ACESSD/EW/10&46; 0-0-1, Kochupamba, Pathanamthitta district, 25 January 201, Habitat: From the root mass of grass on the edge of the reservoir, Date: 25 January 2011, Collectors: S.P. Narayanan and G. Christopher, Reg. no. ACESSD/EW/47; 0-4-6, Megha Plantation area Nedumkandam, Idukki district, Habitat: Considerably wet grass area with rocks in a depression, Date: 26 January 2011, Collectors: S.P. Narayanan and G. Christopher, Reg. No. ACESSD/EW/48; 0-0-1, Shishak Sadan, Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram district, Habitat: Urban area, collected from a wet area near a bathroom, Date: 6 March 2012, Collector: T. Augustine, Reg. No. ACESSD/EW/66.

Distribution: Kerala (present record): Parackal estate near Rajappara, Megha Plantation area near Nedumkandam (Idukki district), Kochupamba (Pathanamthitta district), Shishak Sadan, Ulloor (Thiruvananthapuram district); elsewhere: Punjab, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu (Begum and Ismail, 2004; Dhiman and Battish, 2006; Julka, 2008); other countries: native - Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo (Gates, 1972; Oboh et al., 2007); exotic - Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cuba, Fernando Po, French Guiana, Great Comoros, Guyana, Haiti, Madagascar, Martinique, New Caledonia, New Zealand, North America, Panama, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome, Sri Lanka, St. Croix, St. Helena, St. Pierre-Miquelon, St. Thomas, Surinam, Trinidad, Venezuela (Beddard, 1895; Gates, 1972).

The details gathered from the local people of the area revealed that these are escapees from the active or abandoned compost pits. They were found in considerable numbers in almost all sampled sites.

As per T. Augustine at Ulloor considerable numbers of these were seen in the bathroom and premises especially in night.

E. eugeniae is widely used in our state for vermi-composting. It is likely that the E. eugeniae has already been established in various areas of the state through the compost. Gonzalez et al. (2006) stated that once an exotic species has become established in a new place, regional and species characteristics seem to be the key factors determining their spread. E. eugeniae being a very active, fast breeding species and due to the tropical climatic conditions of the state, which is almost same as that of its native place, it would proliferate here and may adversely affect the native earthworms especially the epigeic forms. It is likely that it would have its impact on the less understood soil ecology of our state. Hence vermicomposting with this exotic species has to be carried out with great caution.

Acknowledgments We would like to thank K. Sreedharan and T.K. Suabash for helps offered during the collection trips. We are also indebted to Toms Augustine for collecting the sample from Thiruvananthapuram.

References Aiyer, K.S.P. 1929. An account of the oligochaeta of Travancore. Records of the Indian Museum, 31(1): 13-76.

Beddard, F.E. 1895. A monograph of the order Oligochaeta. Oxford at the Clarendon Press.

Begum, V.I.R. and Ismail, S.A. 2004. Illustration of earthworms occurring in and around Chennai, India.

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Zoos' Print Journal, 19(3): 1394-1400.

Dhiman, N. and Battish, S.K. 2006. Earthworms from northern Indian state with Ocnerodrilus occidentalis Eisen, 1878 as new report from Punjab. Zoos' Print Journal, 21(1): 2135-2137.

Dominguez, J., Edwrads, C.A. and Ashby, J. 2001. The biology and population dynamics of Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg) (Oligochaeta) in cattle waste management. Pedobiologia, 45: 341-353.

Gates, G.E. 1972. Burmese earthworms, an introduction to the systematic and biology of the megadrile oligochaeta with special reference to South East Asia. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society (n.s.), 62 (7): 1-326.

Gonzalez, G., Huang, C.Y., Zou, X. and Rodriguez, C. 2006. Earthworm invasions in the tropics.

Biological Invasions, 8: 1247-1256. DOI 10.1007/s10530-066-9023-7 Julka, J.M. 2008. Know your earthworms. Foundation for Life Sceiences & Business Management, Sloan. 51 pp.

Oboh, B.O., Akintobi, D.O. and Ejidereonwu, C. 2007. Morphometirc studies in Eudrilus eugeniae populations form different locations in Lagos, Nigeria. Nature and Science 5(2): 16-21.

Stephenson, J. 1923. The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma – Oligochaeta. Taylor and Francis, London. Xxiv + 518pp.

Fig.1:

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Botanical Snippets KP Rajesh Department of Botany Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College Kozhikode- 673 013 New plants from laterite habitats of northern Kerala The laterite hillocks of Kerala are unique ecosystems with unparalleled assemblage of plant and animal life. The most striking feature of the system is its strong seasonal rhythm, in tune with the monsoon showers. During the summer period it remains a barren land of hard crust laterite. Along with the southwest monsoon, it becomes a vibrant habitat with the sparkling hues of aquatic plants. In the recent past some interesting plant species have been recorded from this ecosystem. Nymphoides krishnakesara (Joseph & Sivarajan, 1990), Rotala malabarica (Pradeep et al., 1990), Justicia ekakusuma (Pradeep & Sivarajan 1991) and Laepidagathis keralensis (Madhusoodanan & Singh, 1992) are the endemic plants described from this habitat. More than 500 species of plants are found in the laterite scrub and glassland of Madayipara, a typical laterite ecosystem of Kannur district (Balakrishnan et al., Malabar Trogon 8: 14-29. 2010). This shows the richness of the plant diversity of this habitat.

Further explorations in the recent years resulted in recording many more endemic plants.

Nanooravia, a new endemic grass genus from the laterite habitats Aptly named in honour of Prof. N. Ravi (Nanoo Ravi), a dedicated teacher of plant taxonomy and a wellknown agrostologist (expert of grass taxonomy) of Kerala. As a Professor of Botany at SN College, Kollam he inspired many of his students to become taxonomists of merit. He has also described many new endemic grasses (family Poaceae) and sedges (family Cyperaceae) from Kerala such as Dimeria chelariensis, D. eradii, D. idukkiensis, D. namboodiriana, D. sreenarayanae, Fimbristylis angamoozhensis, F. pseudonarayanii, Fuirena ponmudiensis, Ischaemum wayanadense, I. abrahamii, I. fischeri, etc. The new genus, Nanooravia, with its single species N. santapaui is endemic to northern part of Kerala (Kannur and Kasaragode districts) and the Dakshin Kannada and Uttar Kannada districts of Karnataka. This plant was earlier described under the grass genus Dimeria as Dimeria santapaui. The authors state that, it is quite distinct from Dimeria and hence separated to a new genus.

This plant shows some similarity with the monotypic Indian genus Pogonachne (with its species P. racemosa), which is endemic to Maharashtra State. The authors observed that Nanooravia as growing in lateritic areas along with other endemic grasses such as Bhidea burnsiana, Danthonidium gammiei, Dimeria bialata and Glyphochloa acuminata. This discovery reveals the significance of the laterite habitats, which is usually considered as a wasteland by the general public and administrators. Nanooravia turned as the 15th endemic grass genus of the Western Ghats.

[Raj, M.S.K., Sivadasan, M., Veldkamp, J. F., Alfarhan, A. H. and Thomas, J. 2013. Nanooravia gen. nov., subtribe Dimeriinae (Poaceae–Panicoideae–Andropogoneae) from India. ?Nordic Journal of Botany ?31 (2): 161–165.]

Contact: Dr. M. Sivadasan (drmsivadasan@rediffmail.com) A new aquatic grass from Madayipara A team of researchers noticed that the population of Coelochne in the wet areas of Madayipara differ from all other known species. They named this curious grass as Coelochne madayensis. The grass genus Coelochne is known with 10 species, distributed in the tropics subtropics of the Old world. In India it is known with three species, of which two (C. infirma and C. perpusilla) occur in Kerala. The research team included botanists, C. Pramod (Goverment Brennen College), Dr. A.K. Pradeep (University of Calicut) and Dr. JF Veldkamp (Leiden University, the Netherlands). The authors state that, the new species is related to C. minuta. It grows in the seasonal pools of the laterite habitats of Madayipara, in association with Eriocaulon spp., Fimbristylis sp., Geissaspis cristata var. tenella, Isachne veldkampii, Rhamphicarpa longiflora, Rotala malabarica, Rotala malapuzhensis, Utricularia spp., etc. This plant grows submerged in the shallow waters with its emergent inflorescence. ?[Pramod, C., Pradeep, A.K. & Veldkamp, J.F. 2012. Coelachne madayensis (Poaceae-Pooideae-Isachneae), a new species from Kerala, India. ?Gard. Bull. Singapore 64: 289-292.]

Contact: C. Pramod (cpramod4@gmail.com)

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Malabar Trogon -Vol. 10(3). 2012

Novelties in Eriocaulon Eriocaulon madayiparense is a new species described by a team of botanists from Malabar Botanical Garden (Kozhikode, Kerala) and the Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College (Kozhikode). It is the fifth new species described from Madayipara, Kannur district. It appears during the wet phase, and grows in the shallow pools and puddles of Madayipara. It also grows in the similar habitats of Kannur district such as Thrikkuttiyeri, Meenkulam, etc.

[Swapna, M.M., Rajesh, K.P. Manju, C.N. and Prakashkumar, R. 2012. Eriocaulon madayiparense (Eriocaulaceae) - A new species from the foot hills of the Western Ghats of India. Phytokeys 10: 19-23.]

Contact: Dr. KP Rajesh (kprajesh.botany@gmail.com) Named after its type locality Cheemeni of Kasaragode district, Eriocaulon cheemenianum, is another addition to the laterite flora. It is a small monsoon herb with inflorescence of about 3 cm long. It is also found growing in similar habitats such as Madayipara, Peringome (Kannur district), Karindalam, Seethangoli (Kasaragode district), etc. The authors state that the present species grows in the wet areas of the lateritic hillocks in association with Drosera indica, Utricularia lazulina, U. reticulata, Eriocaulon eurypeplon, Rhamphicarpa longiflora, Murdannia semiteres, Geissaspis tenella, etc. They comment that, E. cheemenianun is related to E. odoratum and differs in many features.

[Biju, P., Prasad, K.S., Kumar, P.A., Augustine, J., Raveendran, K. and Ansari, R. 2012. Eriocaulon cheemenianum (Eriocaulaceae), a new species from Kerala, India. Inter. J. Plant Animal & Envt. 2: 176-179.]

Contact: Prasad, K.S. (prasadks.1090@rediffmail.com) Eriocaulon kannurense described from Kanayi kanam, a laterite plateau of Kannur district, is characterized by its submerged habit. It grows rooted in the bottom of shallow pools, and the flowers in compact button like bunches emerge above water surface. This species was known from a few pools of the Kanayi area and was described by a team of botanists lead by Dr. CN Sunil of SNM College, Maliankara, Ernakulam. The authors state that, the present species is related to Eriocaulon setaceum and E. capillus-naiadis, but differs in many features.

[Sunil, C. N., Narayanan, M.K.R., Nandakumar, M. K., Sujana K. A., Joseph, J.P. and Kumar, N.A. 2012.

Eriocaulon kannurense (Eriocaulaceae), a new species from Kerala, India. Inter. J. Plant Animal & Envt. 3: 116120.]

Contact: Dr. Ratheesh Narayanan, M.K. (ratheeshpoduval@yahoo.co.in) A remarkable species of Lindernia from Madayipara Lindernia madayiparense is another exciting find from Madayipara, made by a team of botanists lead by Dr. Ratheesh Narayanan. It was found growing in the seasonal ponds of Madayipara. Authors state that the most striking feature of this plant is the heterophyllous condition as seen in the genus Limnophila. The submerged leaves are highly dissected, which transform to the normal on the exposed parts. The present new species is related to Lindernia parviflora. It grows in association with species such as Oryza rufipogon., Rhamphicarpa longiflora, Rotala malabarica, Rotala malampuzhensis and Utricularia reticulate, etc.

[Narayanan, M.K.R., Sunil, C. N., Nandakumar, M.K., Sujana K.A., Joseph, J.P. and Kumar, N.A. 2012. Lindernia madayiparense (Linderniaceae) - a new species from Kerala, India. Inter. J. Plant Animal & Envt. 2: 59- 62.]

Contact: Dr. Ratheesh Narayanan, M.K. (ratheeshpoduval@yahoo.co.in) Laterite habitats of Northern Kerala holds few more new Rotala species Rotala is a genus of Lythraceae, composed of more than 45 species of aquatic or amphibious herbs distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In India it is known by 24 species, of which 20 are from Peninsular India. Rotala malabarica is a narrow endemic species described from the laterite habitats of Kannur district. Recent studies proved that the system holds some more novelties of this genus.

Rotala tulunadensis, is another recent find from the seasonal pond of Kasaragode district. It was described by a team of botanists from Sir Syed College (Taliparamba, Kannur, Kerala) and Poornaprajna College (Udupi, Karnataka). It grows rooted to the bottom of the shallow water bodies, and flowers on exposed branches. The authors state that it is related to Rotala pterocalyx, but differs in having larger leaves, and some features of calyx tube, etc. It was found growing in Permude (Kasaragode district). The authors comment that it remains submerged during the rainy season and emerges out as water level recedes during winter and summer. It overcomes the dry

Malabar Trogon -Vol. 10(3). 2012 season by its root stocks which remain buried in the mud. It grows in association with Blyxa aubertii var. echinosperma, Eriocaulon cuspidatum, E. eurypeplon, Limnophila repens, Nymphoides parvifolia, Pogostemon deccanensis, Wiesneria triandra, etc.

[Prasad, K.S., Biju, P., Raveendran, K. and Bhat, K.G. 2012. Rotala tulunadensis sp. nov. (Lythraceae) from Kerala, India. Nordic Journal of Botany 30: 58–60.]

Contact: Prasad, K.S. (prasadks.1090@rediffmail.com) A new Rotala in honour of Dr. KM Khaleel A team of botanists lead by Dr. CN Sunil of SNM College, Maliankara, Ernakulam descried a curious plant from Kanayi kanam, as Rotala khaleeliana. It is named in honour of Prof. K M Khaleel (Sir Syed College, Taliparamba, Kannur district). It also grows on the wet parts of the laterite plateau. The authors state that the new species is related to Rotala rosea, but differs by having features such as angular stem, leafless old stem with swollen internodes, dimorphic leaves, etc. It grows in association with Ischaemum mangaluricum, Blyxa aubertii, Oryza rufipogon, Utricularia reticulate, Geissaspis tenella and Eriocaulon. It was also found growing in the Nadukani area of Kannur District.

[Sunil, C. N., Narayanan, M.K.R., Nandakumar, M. K., Joseph, J.P., Jaleel, V.A. and Kumar, N.A. 2013. Rotala khaleeliana sp. nov. (Lythraceae), a new species from lateritic hills of Kannur, Kerala, India. Intern. J. Advanced Research 1 (2): 14-16.]

Contact: Dr. Ratheesh Narayanan, M.K. (ratheeshpoduval@yahoo.co.in) A delicate herb in honour of Prof. KG Bhat Canscora bhatiana is an erect annual herb with pink coloured flowers described from the laterite habitats of Kasaragode district. It is named in honour of Prof. KG Bhat (Department of Botany, Poornaprajna College, Udupi, Karnataka). The authors state that this species differs from allied species such as Canscora diffusa, C. devandrae and C. sanjappae. It is characterized by dichotomously branched habit. It grows in the laterite habitat, in association with species such as Canscora diffusa, Neanotis hohenackeri, Eriocaulon eurypeplon, Justicia nagpurensis, Hedyotis cyanantha, Polygala elongate, Cyanotis papilionacea and Polycarpaea corymbosa, etc. It was found growing in areas of Kasaragode such as Seethangoli, Darmathadka, Kallakatta, Bapalipponam, Ukkinadka, etc.

[Prasad, K.S. and Raveendran, K. 2012. Canscora bhatiana (Gentianaceae), A new species from Kerala, India.

Inter. J. Plant Animal & Envt. 2: 197-201.]

Contact: Prasad, K.S. (prasadks.1090@rediffmail.com) Plant novelties emerges from Wayanad Botanists of MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) keep on adding many plant novelties from the wilderness of Wayanad. In the recent years the team has reported many novelties such as Miliusa wayanadica (Narayanan et al., 2010), Oberonia swaminathanii (Narayanan et al., 2010), etc. They have added some more novelties in Impatiens, Memecylon, etc.

[Narayanan, M.K.R., Sujanapal, P., Kumar, N.A., Sasidharan, N. and Sivadasan, M. 2010. Miliusa wayanadica (Annonaceae), a new species from Western Ghats, India. J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 4(1): 63-67.]

[Narayanan, M. K.R., Manudev, K.M., Sujanapal, P., Kumar, N.A., Sivadasan, M. and Alfarhan, A. H. 2010. Oberonia swaminathanii sp. nov. (Orchidaceae) from Kerala, India. Nordic Journal of Botany 28: 1-4.]

Novelties in the genus Impatiens In India the genus is represented by more than 210 taxa mainly distributed in the Eastern Himalayas, the neighboring North-Eastern states and the Western Ghats. Most of them are endemics to these regions. More than 90 species of Impatiens are endemic to the Western Ghats. More than 20 species were known to occur in the Wayanad area. The most recent finds are: Impatiens minae is a pink flowered new balsam found growing on the wet rocks in the grasslands of Chembra-Vellarimala hill ranges of Wayanad district, at an altitude of 1600-2000 m. It is related to Impatiens denisonii and I. scapiflora. The authors state that it is named in honour of Mrs. Mina Swaminathan, in appreciation of her contribution towards the education and empowerment of underprivileged children and women in rural areas,

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and also in creating awareness among them on the values and importance of biodiversity and its conservation.

Considering its low population size, scattered in an area of less than 30 sq.km, the authors placed it in the Critically Endangered Category of IUCN Redlist.

[Narayanan, M.K.R., Kumar, N.A., Raj, R.M., Sivadasan, M. and Alfarhan, A.H.. 2011. A new scapigerous species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from India. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 18(2): 141-148.]

Contact: Dr. M. Sivadasan (drmsivadasan@rediffmail.com) Impatiens veerapazhasii is a new epiphytic balsam with white flowers. It was found in the shola forests of Kurichiarmala in Wayanad. The authors comment that it appears with the onset of monsoons and perishes within a short duration of time, even in one week of non-rainy period in the monsoon season. They state that it is named in honor of Pazhassi Raja, the north Kerala prince who made valiant resistance against the British imperialism in the th 19 century. Wayanad forests and its ethnic Kurichya tribal community gave shelter and support to this great warrior during the guerilla type of war against the British army. The new plant is related to species such as I. pandata, I. neobarnesii and I. orchioides.

[Kumar, N.A., Narayanan, M.K.R., Sujanapal, P., Raj, R.M., Sujana, K.A. and Mithunlal. 2011. Impatiens veerapazhasii (Balsaminaceae), a new scapigerous balsam from Wayanad, Western Ghats, India. J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 5(1): 153-158.]

Contact: Dr. Ratheesh Narayanan, M.K. (ratheeshpoduval@yahoo.co.in) Impatiens johnsiana is an epiphytic balsam named in honour of late Prof. John C. Jacob, popularly known as “Johnci”, who kick started the environmental education movement in Kerala. He was an ardent naturalist who devoted his life to conserve the biodiversity of the Western Ghats. The present species was found in the evergreen forests of Kattimottom hills of Chembra-Vellarimala hill ranges, Wayanad District, at an altitude of 1500–1700 MSL. The authors state that, its population is very small, composed of less than 500 individuals, and confined a small area. Hence they have been assigned the Critically Endangered (CR) category of IUCN Red list. This pink flowered species is related to Imaptiens dendricola and I. scapiflora.

[Narayanan, M.K.R., Kumar, N.A. and Joseph, J. P., Sunil, C.N. and Shaju, T. 2012. Impatiens johnsiana (Balsaminaceae), a new scapigerous balsam from Western Ghats, India. J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 6(1): 113 – 118.]

Contact: Dr. Ratheesh Narayanan, M.K. (ratheeshpoduval@yahoo.co.in) Impatiens mohana is an elegant new balsam growing on the wet rocks in grasslands of Aranamala Hills at an altitude of 1600-1800 m. The authors state that the name is derived from the Malayalam word, 'mohanam' which means beautiful in appreciation of its remarkable pink flowers. The present species is related to I. modesta.

[Narayanan, M.K.R., Sujana, K. A., Balakrishnan, V., Raj, R.M. and Kumar, N. A. 2012. Impatiens mohana (Balsaminaceae), a new scapigerous balsam from Wayanad, Western Ghats, India. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 69: 281-285.]

Contact: Dr. Ratheesh Narayanan, M.K. (ratheeshpoduval@yahoo.co.in) Impatiens theuerkaufiana is named in honour of Mr. Wolfgang D. Theuerkauf, who established the Narayana Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary at Periya of Wayanad in Kerala for the conservation of southern Indian plants. He is an ardent naturalist and botanist who devote his life for conservation of wild plants of the Western Ghats, creating awareness and imparting education on nature, natural resources, and conservation. Impatiens theuerkaufiana is an epiphytic species, collected from the montane evergreen forests (shola forest) at elevations of 1900 – 2000 m in Chembra hills of Wayanad. Its flowers are white with yellow patches of papillae near the centre.

The authors state that the species differs from related species such as I. dendricola, I. agumbeana and I. stocksii in having many features. They observe that it is a delicate species, appears with the onset of monsoon and perish within a short period, even with just a week-long non-rainy period during monsoon season.

[Narayanan, M.K.R., Joseph, J.P., Kumar, N.A., Sivadasan, M. and Alfarhan, A.H. 2013. Impatiens theuerkaufiana (Balsaminaceae), a new scapigerous species from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 83 (1): 54–60.]

Contact: Dr. M. Sivadasan (drmsivadasan@rediffmail.com) New Memecylon from Wayanad Memecylon wayanadense is a new species found in the Chembra-Vellarimala hills of the Meppady forest range of Wayanad, Kerala. Memecylon is a genus of Melastomataceae, distributed in Asia (300 spp.), Africa (70 spp.) and Madagascar (78 spp.). In India, it is represented by 39, of which 21 are endemic. In Peninsular India it is known to have 29 species including 18 endemics. The present species is a shrub in the lower stratum of evergreen

Malabar Trogon -Vol. 10(3). 2012 forests at an altitude of 800–1400 m. The authors state that this narrow-leaved species is related to species such as Memecylon angustifolium, M. rivulare and M. sivadasanii.

[Sivu, A.R., Narayanan, M.K.R., Pradeep, N. S., Kumar, N.A. and Pandurangan, A.G. 2012. Memecylon wayanadense (Melastomataceae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India. Edinburgh Jour. Botany 69 (3): 1–8.]

Contact: Dr. Ratheesh Narayanan, M.K. (ratheeshpoduval@yahoo.co.in) A rare Memecylon of Sri Lanka recorded from Kerala A team of botanists from M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI) recorded Memecylon clarkeanum from the forests of Kerala. During their study on the diversity of the genus Memecylon, the scientists found that, the Sri Lankan taxa, Memecylon clarkeanum grows in the forests such as Vaduvanchal, Kunchome (Wayanad district), Aruvanpara of Silent Valley National Park (Palakkad district), Nilambur (Malappuram district) and Thamarassery Ghat (Kozhikode district) of Kerala. It is a new record of occurrence for this species in India. This species is characterized by the narrow leaves.

[Sivu, A.R., Narayanan, M.K.R., Kumar, E.S.S., Sujana, K.A., Pradeep, N. S., Kumar, N.A. and Pandurangan, A.G. 2012. Memecylon clarkeanum Cogn. (Melastomataceae) - a threatened species, new record for India. Taiwania 57(3): 327-330.]

Contact: Dr. Ratheesh Narayanan, M.K. (ratheeshpoduval@yahoo.co.in) New tree species Miliusa gokhalaei is a new tree species from the forests of Wayanad and adjacent areas. It is named in honour of Mr. A.M. Gokhalae, former Director of MSSRF. Miliusa is a genus of about 50 species distributed in the tropics of the world. In Peninsular India it was known with 10 taxa, including, Miliusa wayanadica (Narayanan et al., 2010) a recent novelty described from Wayanad. Miliusa gokhalaei is related to Miliusa indica and M. eriocarpa. It was found growing as a small tree or shrub of the lower stratum of evergreen forests at an altitudinal range of 400-750 m in Vythiri (Wayanad district), Nadukani (Malappuram district), Kakkayam and Thusharagiri (Kozhikode district). Due to the fragmented population, limited to less than 100 sq.km area and high degree of disturbances the authors consider it as belonging to the Critically Endangered (CR) category of IUCN Redlist.

[Narayanan, M.K.R., Sujanapal, P., Kumar, N.A., Sivadasan, M., Alfarhan, A.H. and Thomas, J. 2012. Miliusa gokhalaei, a new species of Annonaceae from India with notes on interrelationships, population structure and conservation status. Phytotaxa 42: 26–34.]

Contact: Dr. M. Sivadasan (drmsivadasan@rediffmail.com) A remarkable new aquatic lily from a seasonal stream of Periya in Kasaragode Small plants, which appear for a few days or a season, are easy to miss. However, to overlook a plant with more than 4 meters long ribbon like leaves, and grows gregariously in a seasonal village stream is difficult. The chance of noticing such a curious plant is very high, when it reveals the strikingly beautiful, fragrant white flowers above the water surface. However, such a curious plant remained unnamed until noticed by two botanists of Shivaji University (Kolhapur, Maharashtra) at Periya in 2011. They named it as Crinum malabaricum. The genus Crinum include tuberous herbs with, strikingly beautiful flowers, and is with more than 100 species distributed world over.

Earlier, three aquatic species (Crinum thaianum from Thailand, C. natans and C. purpurascens from Africa) were known in this genus. Crinum thaianum is known to have leaves of 2-3 m in length. The other two African species have leaves less than 1.4 m. The present one thus turned out to be the fourth aquatic species, with the longest leaves (2-4 m). The authors state that, the new species is very rare, confined to a small area in the Periya village. They consider it as Critically Endangered (CR) as per the IUCN Red List criteria.

[Lekhak, M. M. and Yadav, S.R. 2012. Crinum malabaricum (Amaryllidaceae), a remarkable new aquatic species from Kerala, India and lectotypification of Crinum thaianum. Kew Bulletin 67: 521-526.]

Contact: Lekhak, M. M. (mlekhak@gmail.com) A new climber species from Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary Combretum recurvatum is a new climber species described from the forests of Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary of Kannur district, Kerala. It was reported by a team of botanists from Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF). The authors state that the new species is related to Combretum

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malabaricum (earlier known as Quisqualis malabarica), but differs in many features such as the shape of the leaves, flowers, etc.

[Sujana, K.A., Narayanan, M.K.R. and Kumar, N.A. 2012. A new combination and a new species in Combretum (Combretaceae) from India. J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 6(2): 453 – 458.]

Contact: Sujana, K.A. (sujanacabc@yahoo.com) Novelties in Commelinaceae from Kerala Commelina clavatoides is a new species found from hilly areas of Kerala such as Marayoor (Idukki district), Paithalmala (Kannur district), Nelliyampathy (Palakkad district). It was described by a team of botanists from St. Joseph's College, Devagiri, Kozhikode. The present species was found along the sides of the roads in the hilly areas. The authors state that it strongly resembles Commelina clavata, a common species of the area, hence its name.

[Joseph, S.M., Antony, A.A.A. and Nampy, S. 2012. Commelina clavatoides (Commelinaceae), a new species from Kerala, India. J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 6(1): 119 – 122.]

Contact: Dr. Santhosh Nampy (santhoshnampy@yahoo.com) A new Commelinaceae plant in honour of late Dr. R. Satheesh The researchers of School of Environmental Sciences of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam recently named a plant to honour their late teacher Dr R. Satheesh of School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India for his contributions in the field of environmental sciences and biodiversity conservation. Named as Murdannia satheeshiana is a new plant described from the Mathikettan Shola National Park, Idukki district, Kerala. This is a bright orange-yellow flowered herb. Murdannia is a genus of Commelinaceae distributed in the tropical and warm temperate areas of the world with 59 species. In India it is known by 25 taxa (including 2 subspecies) of which 18 are reported from the Western Ghats. The authors state that the new species was found growing in wet rocks of grassland in continuation of the shola forest. It is related to Murdannia pauciflora.

[Paul, J., Nisha P., Rameshan, M., Augustine, T., Thomas, R.P. and Unni, K.S. 2011. Murdannia satheeshiana—a new species of Commelinaceae from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 22: 41–46.]

Contact: Joby Paul (jobypaulses@gmail.com) Do not ignore plants of cities - it may be a new one!

The report of a new Pandanus species from the midst of Palakkad town proves the significance of leftover vegetations in the cities. Screw pines are well known for their sweet scented flowers. However, these large plants are usually avoided by the general public mainly due to their prickly leaves. The leaves are collected by skilled laborers, for making mat, basket etc. In Kerala, the genus has five species (Pandanus canaranus, P. furcatus, P. kaida, P. odorifer and P. thwaitesii), which usually grows on the banks of streams, borders of paddy fields, etc. Pandanus thwaitesii is a forest species. A team of botanists from the University of Pune recently found that the Pandanus plants growing in the midst of Palakkad town and surroundings are different from other known species. They described it as Pandanus palakkadensis. It is related to P.canaranus. and P. furcatus. The population of this narrow endemic is very limited, and the authors assessed it as belongs to Critically Endangered (CR) of IUCN Red List. The authors also compared the chemical features of the fragrance of the flowers, and found it characteristically distinct for the new species.

The same team has described another curious Pandanus species from Mangalore area, of Karnataka as Pandanus mangalorensis. It is also known by a few individuals, confined to a small area.

[Nadaf, A. B., Zanan, R. L. and Wakte, K. V. 2011. A new endemic species of Pandanaceae from India: Pandanus palakkadensis. Kew Bulletin 66: 183–186.]

Contact: Dr. A.B. Nadaf (abnadaf@unipune.ac.in) New book on Indian Screw pine family The family Pandanaceae are represented in India with 16 species of Pandanus, distributed in two regions, the Western Ghats (10 species) and North East Himalayas (5 species), with one species common to both regions.

The new book, Indian Pandanaceae – an overview, is the first comprehensive account on the Pandanus of Indian region. The authors have provided a detailed taxonomic account based on morpho-molecular techniques.

[Nadaf, A.B. and Zanan, R.L. 2013. Indian Pandanaceae-an overview. Springer, Gernany.]

Contact: Dr. A.B. Nadaf (abnadaf@unipune.ac.in)

Malabar Trogon -Vol. 10(3). 2012 A new plant species in honour of Dr. A K Pradeep A team of botanists from Calicut University and University of Vienna described an elegant herbaceous plant in honour of Dr. A K Pradeep, a renowned botanist of Kerala. The plant was found on the moist rocks of evergreen forests of Muthappanpuzha in Kozhikode district. It belongs to the family Gesneriaceae and is named as Henckelia pradeepiana in appreciation of the inspiring contributions of Dr. Pradeep. The authors state that, it is remarkable by the presence of flat tubers, from which shoots with a single or few basal leaves and large and lax inflorescences (pair-flowered cymes) emerge. The flowers are white or pale violet with bright yellow stigma. The present species is related to the Henckelia missionis, growing in the forests of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu.

The specimens of this plant were earlier collected by Dr. A K Pradeep during 1997, from damp rocks near the waterfall at Olichuchattam in Muthappanpuzha area. However, that population was lost in landslide. Further searches for the plant in the later years were not successful. It was later collected in 2010, by the present authors, and now described.

[Manudev, K.M., Weber, A.and Nampy, S. 2012. Henckelia pradeepiana, a new species of Gesneriaceae from the southern Western Ghats, India. Rheedea 22(2): 119-123.]

Contact: Dr. Santhosh Nampy (santhoshnampy@yahoo.com) A new species of Salacia from Agasthyamala Salacia is a genus of Hippocrateaceae and consists of about 200 species distributed in tropical America, Africa and Asia. It includes some medicinal plants like Ekanayakam or Ponkarandi (Salacia fruticosa, Salacia reticulate, etc). In India the genus is known by 21 species, of which 15 species are known to occur in Peninsular India. In Kerala eight species of this genus are known to occur. Salacia agasthiamalana is a new species, found in the evergreen and grassland vegetation of Pongalapara area of Agathiamala (Thiruvananthapuram district) at an altitude of 900–1100 m. The authors state that the new species is similar to Salacia macrosperma in its cauliflorous, many-flowered umbelliform cymes and globose orange-red berries. It is however is characteristic in having bushy scandent habit, blackish lenticellate branchlets, dark green, elliptic, coriaceous, serrate-crenate leaves, fewflowered (2–8) cymes and smooth berries. It was found growing together with other rare and endemic species such as Actinodaphne campanulata, Bentinckia condapanna, Byrsophyllum tetrandrum, Eugenia indica, Euphorbia santapaui, Hedyotis albonervia, Microtropis ramiflora, Polyscias acuminate, etc.

[Udayan, P. S., Yohannan, R., Devipriya, M. S., Devipriya, V. and Pradeep, A. K. 2012. A new species of Salacia (Hippocrateaceae) from south India. Edinburgh Jour. Botany 69 (2): 255–258.]

Contact: Dr. P.S. Udayan (psudayan@rediffmail.com) Many new members added to the ginger family The members of the Ginger family, Zingiberaceae, play a key role in our life by making it spicier, adding unique flavours. Many of them are magnificent garden plants, with sparkling flowers and foliage. The Western Ghats of southern India and the forests of the North-eastern India are treasure trove of wild ginger. The commercially important spices such as Cardamom, Ginger, Turmeric etc. originated and diversified in these areas.

The wild relatives of the present day spice crops from these areas the country, offers immense potential for the improvement of them. Recording of wild members of these plants broadens our knowledge on the genetic variations, and offer a lot of scope for their improvement in the future.

The contributions made by the experts from the Calicut University in the recent years, on the Zingiberaceae plants are invaluable. The explorations in the forests of the Western Ghats, North-Eastern states, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, by a team of researchers lead by Prof. M. Sabu of Botany Department resulted in the discovery many interesting new members of Zingiberaceae plants.

Novelties in Amomum Amomum is a large genus with about 150-180 species distributed in South-east Asia. It includes the Large Cardamom (Amomum subulatum) growing in the north-eastern India. In India the genus Amomum has 22 species, mostly restricted to North-east India and the Western Ghats. Earlier, in Southern India seven species of Amomum were known to occur. Prof. Sabu and his team discovered three more new species of Amomum from the forests of Kerala; one from the Silent Valley National Park (Palakkad district) and two from Agasthyamala (Thiruvanathapuram district).

The researchers named the new plant from Silent Valley National Park as Amomum nilgiricum. It shows similarity to Amomum masticatorium, and was found in the dense forests of Silent Valley, at 1.5 km from Walakkad

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towards Sispara. Considering the low number of individuals confined to a small area, the authors considered it as belonging to the Critically Endangered (CR) category of IUCN Red List.

Amomum agastyamalayanum was found in the evergreen forests of Athirumala in the Agathyamala hills at altitudes of 900-1300 m. The authors consider it as belonging to the Critically Endangered category of IUCN Redlist, due to its small population confined a very limited area. It is related to Amomum ghaticum, another endemic species of the Western Ghats.

The second new species from Agasthyamala was named as Amomum newmanii, in honour of Dr. M F Newman of Royal Botanical Garden, Edinburgh. It was done in appreciation of his valuable contribution towards the studies on Zigiberaceae. The new plant occur as an undergrowth in the evergreen forests at an altitude above 1000 m. Due to its low population size, it is also considered as belonging to Critically Endangered category.

[Thomas, V. P., Sabu, M. and Kumar, K.M.P. 2012. Amomum nilgiricum (Zingiberaceae), a new species from Western Ghats, India. Phytokeys 8: 99–104.]

[Thomas, V.P. and Sabu, M. 2012. Two new species of Amomum (Zingiberaceae) from Western Ghats, India.

Edinburgh Journal of Botany 69 (2): 313-321.]

New species and new records In the recent years the team has described some remarkable novelties such as Plagiostachys nicobarica from the Great Nicobar of Nicobar Islands (Sabu et al., 2008), Hedychium nagamiense (Sanoj & Sabu, 2011) from Nagaland, Larsenianthus assamensis from Assam, L. arunachalensis from Arunachal Pradesh (Kress et al., 2011).

Earlier this team has recorded some interesting plants of Zingiberaceae and Marantaceae. They include plants such as Alpinia ovoidocarpa from Arunachal Pradesh (Sabu et al., 2008), Stahlianthus involucratus from Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland (Sanoj et al., 2008), Amomum fulviceps (Thomas et al., 2009) from Agasthyamala hills (Kerala), Zingiber parishii from Andaman Islands (Sabu et al., 2009), Etlingera fenslii from Nicobar Islands (Leong-Skornickova et al., 2009), Stachyphynium repens (Marantaceae) from Andaman Islands (Kumar et al., 2011).

In association with a scientist of Indian Cardamom Research Institure (ICRI), Gangtok, they had identified five new cultivars of large cardomum (Amomum subulatum) such as 'Dzongu', 'Green Golsey', 'Sawney', 'Seremna' and 'Varlangey' from the North-eastern India (Thomas et al., 2009). They had also re-examined the status of, Amomum cannicarpum, a rare plant of the Western Ghats (Thomas et al., 2012).

A new subspecies of wild Musa, Musa velutina subsp. markkuana was also found by the team from Arunachal Pradesh (Sabu et al., 2013). It is named in honour of Mr. Markku Häkkinen, a Botanist of Finnish Museum of Natural History (University of Helsinki, Finland). This subspecies is characterized by the glabrous fruits, in contrast to the typical hairy fruits of M. velutina.

[Kress, W. J., Mood, J.D., Sabu, M., Prince, L. M., Dey, S. and Sanoj, E. 2011. Larsenianthus, a new Asian genus of Gingers (Zingiberaceae) with four species. Phytokeys 1: 15–32.

Kumar, T.R., Sabu, M. and Thomas, V.P. 2011. Stachyphynium repens (Marantaceae): a new record for India from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Rheedea 21: 139-141.

Leong-Skornickova, J., Sabu, M. and Prasanthkumar, M.G. 2009. Transfer of Amomum fenslii, a Nicobar Islands endemic, to Etlingera (Zingiberaceae). Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 60: 381-387.

Sabu, M., Joe, A. and Sreejith, P.E. 2013. Musa velutina subsp. markkuana (Musaceae): a new subspecies from northeastern India. Phytotaxa 92 (2): 49–54.

Sabu, M., Sanoj, E. and Kumar, M.G.P. 2008. Plagiostachys nicobarica (Zingiberaceae), new generic record and a new species from the Nicobar Islands, India. Blumea 53: 329-334.

Sabu, M., Sanoj, E. and Pradeep, A.K. 2008. Alpinia ovoidocarpa (Zingiberaceae): a new record for India.

Acta Botanica Hungarica 50: 391-395.

Sabu, M., Thomas, V.P. and Shameer, M.C. 2009. Zingiber parishii (Zingiberaceae): a new record for India from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Acta Botanica Hungarica 51: 363-366.

Sanoj, E. and Sabu, M. 2011. The identity of Hedychium marginatum C.B. Clarke (Zingiberaceae), and a new species, H. nagamiense from North-eastern India. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 18(2): 169-176.

Sanoj, E., Thomas, V.P., Sabu, M. and Kumar, T.R. 2008. Stahlianthus involucratus (King ex Baker) R.M.

Malabar Trogon -Vol. 10(3). 2012 Smith (Zingiberaceae): A new generic record for India. Folia malaysiana 9(1): 43-50.

Thomas, V. P., Sabu, M. and Gupta, U. 2009. Taxonomic studies on cultivars of Amomum subulatum (Zingiberaceae). Rheedea 19: 25-36.

Thomas, V.P., Sabu, M. and Salim, P.M. 2012. On the identity and typification of Amomum cannicarpum (Zingiberaceae): a narrowly endemic and endangered plant from Western Ghats, South India. Kew Bulletin 67: 109113.

Thomas, V.P., Sanoj, E., Sabu, M. and Prasanth, A.V. 2009. On the identity and occurrence of Amomum fuviceps (Zingiberaceae) in India. Rheedea 19: 13-17.]

Contact: Dr. M. Sabu (msabu9@gmail.com)

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Programmes condcucted : Butterfly Study Camp at Aralam WLS, Kannur district The 11th annual butterfly study camp was conducted during 13th -15th January 2013 jointly by the Kerala Forests & Wildlife Department and the Malabar Natural History Society. More than 80 butterfly enthusiasts from different parts of Kerala and Karnataka attended the programme. During the three day survey 158 species of butterflies were recorded. The list included five species of butterflies (Yellow Jack Sailor, Aberrant Oak Blue, Tamil Oak Blue, Peacock Royal and Plain Banded Awl) new to the Sanctuary. Thus, the total number of species recorded in the Sanctuary has come up to 237 after the 11 annual surveys since 2002.

Bird Survey at Malabar WLS, Kozhikode district After a gap of 10 years, MNHS organized a bird survey at Malabar WLS with the help of the Kerala Forests & Wildlife Department. Twenty eight birdwatchers from various parts of Kerala participated in the survey, which was coordinated by Shri. Sathyan Meppayur. They observed 121 species of birds during the survey, including 13 additions to the existing list viz. Steppe buzzard, Osprey, Rufous-bellied Hawk Eagle, Common sandpiper, Brownbacked Needletail, Black-capped Kingfisher, Lesser Yellownape, Grey-headed Bulbul, Blue Rock Thrush, White bellied blue flycatcher, Blue throated flycatcher, Nilgiri flycatcher and Booted Warbler.

Bird Survey at Aralam WLS, Kannur district The 14th annual bird survey at Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary has been conducted on 8, 9 and 10 March 2013.

34 birdwatchers from various part of the State participated in the survey, and recorded 158 species of birds. This included one species new to the Sanctuary, Common Stonechat, a migratory bird. The total number of species recorded from the Sanctuary is now 234 after 14 annual surveys since 2000.

11th AGM of MNHS th The 11 AGM of the Society was held on 28th April 2013 at Malabar Christian College, Kozhikode.

Report for the year 2012-13 and the future programme of the Society were presented by the Secretary. Dr. A.P.M. Rafik, Treasurer presented the accounts of the Society. The meeting also nominated Smt. Myna Umaiban in to the

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new executive committee of the Society. Dr. T.N. Vijayakumar, Shri. C.J. Thomas, Dr. Dineshan Cheruvat also spoke on the occasion. “Tree Walk� at Kottooli wetlands MNHS conducted a 'Tree walk' at Kottooli wetlands near the Kozhikode town on 18 May 2013. More than 35 nature enthusiasts from Kozhikode participated in the programme. They identified more than 100 plant species including five species of Fig trees (Ficus asperima, F. callosa, F. glomerata, F. benghalensis and F. racemosa), five species of Mangrove plants (Excoecaria agallocha, Avicennia marina, A. officinalis, Aegiceras corniculatum, Acrostichum aureum and Clerodendrum inerme) and several medicinal plants (Rauwolfia serpentina, Ipomoea spp., Euphorbia hirta, etc.). The significant bird species observed were White Ibis, Openbill Stork, Oriental Darter, Racket-tailed Drongo and Small green-billed Malkoha. Butterflies such as Crimson Rose, Tawny Coster, Pea Blue, Common Cerulean, Common Crow, Blue Tiger, Psyche, etc. were observed. Dragonflies such as Common Clubtail, Ditch Jewel, Granite Ghost, Pied Paddy Skimmer, Ground Skimmer, Red-faced Skimmer, Green Marsh hawk, Fulvous Forest Skimmer, Globe Skimmer and Common Picture-wing were noted. The total absence of hornbills, jacanas, whistling-teals, moorhens was also noted during the survey. Sri. V.C. Balakrishnan, Dr. T.N. Vijayakumar and Dr. Muhammed. Jafer Palot led the teams in the field.

One day workshop on the conservation of the Mavoor Wetlands In connection with the World Environment Day, MNHS organized a one day workshop on 'Conservation of Mavoor Wetlands' at Panchayath Hall, Mavoor, Kozhikode district on 5 June 2013. The meeting discussed in details about the conservation of Mavoor wetlands by declaring it as a Community Reserve. Social workers from various field, authorities of Gama Panchayath, politicians and members of MNHS participated in the workshop.

Rain Camp at Kakkadampoyil, Kozhikode District MNHS, jointly with the 'Friends of Nature', Kondotty organized a two day monsoon camp at Kakkadampoyil, Kozhikode district on 29 and 30 June 2013. More than 40 nature enthusiasts from various parts of Kerala attended the programme. Sri. Hameedali Vazhakkad, Sri. V. Ramakrishnan and Sri. V.C. Balakrishnan led the teams in the field.

Rain Camp at Kakkadampoyil ONCOMING PROGRAMME 10 November 2013: Kerala Bird Race th 17 November 2013: Butterfly Blitz at Kackavayal Biodiversity Conservation Park, Kozhikode dt th 7-8 December- Sea-lore camp at Muzhappilangad Beach, Kannur dt. th

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Windblown Pelagic birds recorded during the monsoon of 2013 from Kozhikode coast, Kerala Muhamed Jafer Palot Zoological Survey of India Western Ghat Regional Centre Calicut- 673 006 Occurrence of storm-blown marine birds is a regular phenomenon in the coastal districts of Kerala in the monsoon months. Several such records have been documented in detail by Sashikumar, et al.

(2009). This year, we recorded three juvenile Masked Boobies (Sula dactylatra) and one immature Redbilled Tropicbird (Pahaetheon aethereus) from the Kozhikode coast. Interestingly all the records were between Chaliyam (estuary of Chaliyar river) and Kadalundi (estuary of Kadalundi river), within a distance of about 3 km. Except for Farook College, which is about 5 km inland, all the collection sites were very close the sea coast. The details are given in Table 1.

Table 1. Pelagic birds recorded from Kozhikode coast during the southwest monsoon of 2013

All the specimens were juveniles. Though in exhausted condition initially, all recuperated in captivity at the Kadalundi 窶天allikunnu Community Reserve. After a week of care they were released back to the sea at the Kadalundi estuary. During the rehabilitation, the boobies were fed mostly on Mackerel or Sardines while the preferred food of Tropicbird was squid: the bird devoured as many as 12 small squids in a day.

Acknowledgments The author is grateful to Dr. K. Venkatraman, Director, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Dr. P.M. Sureshan, Officer-in-Charge, ZSI, Calicut for facilities and encouragements. Thanks are also due to Shri. Badarudeen, Chalilyam and the forest watchers of Kadaludi 窶天allikunnu Community Reserve for the information on the recovery of pelagic birds.

Reference Sashikumar, C. Praveen, J. Palot, M.J and P.O. Nameer. 2011. Birds of Kerala- Status and distribution. 1st Edition. DC Books, Kottayam, Kerala. Pp. 1-835.

The juvenile Red- billed Tropicbird recovered at Chaliyam coast

The juvenile Masked Booby recovered at Kaducka bazar.

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