Western Ghats Endemic Species

About Western Ghats and Western Ghats Endemic Species

About the Western Ghats

Western Ghats Endemic Species – The hill ranges of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, extend along the west coast of India from the river Tapti in the north to the southern tip of India.
Their positioning makes the Western Ghats biologically rich and biogeographically unique – a veritable treasure house of biodiversity. Though covering an area of 180,000km2, or just under 6 per cent of the land area of India, the Western Ghats contain more than 30 per cent of all plant, fish, herpeto-fauna, bird, and mammal species found in India. Many species are endemic, such as the Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius) and the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus). In fact, 50 per cent of India’s amphibians and 67 per cent of fish species are endemic to this region.

The region has a spectacular assemblage of large mammals – around 30 per cent of the world’s Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) population and 17 per cent of the world’s existing tigers (Panthera tigris) call this area their home. Protection for these is extended through several nationally significant wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves, and national parks.

The Western Ghats include a diversity of ecosystems ranging from tropical wet evergreen forests to montane grasslands containing numerous medicinal plants and important genetic resources such as the wild relatives of grains, fruit and spices. They also include the unique shola ecosystem which consists of montane grasslands interspersed with evergreen forest patches.

The Western Ghats perform important hydrological and watershed functions. Approximately 245 million people live in the peninsular Indian states that receive most of their water supply from rivers originating in the Western Ghats. Thus, the soil and water of this region sustain the livelihoods of millions of people. With the possible exception of the Indo-Malayan region, no other biodiversity hotspot impacts the lives of such a large population.

Historically, WWF-India has had a reasonably strong presence in the region. The organization has been actively involved in the Western Ghats region since the early nineties through the Biodiversity ‘Hotspots’ Conservation Programme (1993-2005) with support from the MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation. The main focus of work at present has been to identify and map critical wildlife corridors, mitigate human-elephant conflict, strengthen protected area management, promote sustainable livelihoods and assess the status of key species like the tiger and Nilgiri tahr outside protected areas to develop conservation strategies. A strong set of relationships and partnerships has been developed with state and local government authorities, civil society organizations and community groups in the region.

Habitat and Distribution in Western Ghats

Nilgiris Eastern Ghats Landscape

The Nilgiris Eastern Ghats Landscape (NEG) is the foremost elephant country of the subcontinent. It has the single largest contiguous population of Asiatic elephants in its range and holds the key to the long term survival of the species. Over 6,000 elephants live in the Nilgiri and Eastern Ghats Landscape which spreads over an area of about 12,000km2. Other large mammals found in the area are the gaur, sambar and tiger. The terrain of the landscape is mostly undulating with low hills. The area extends from the south of the Brahmagiri hills in Karnataka through the Wayanad plateau into the northern Nilgiri hill slopes and the Mysore plateau which links up to the Sigur plateau and the Moyar river valley. The Moyar valley rises up the slopes of the Eastern Ghats leading into the Thalamalai plateau going up to the east of the Biligirirangan range into Bargur, Sathyamangalam and Madeshwaramalai up to the Cauvery River.

Southern Western Ghats Landscape

The Southern Western Ghats (SWG) cover an area of 7000km2 through the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and harbor a very rich floral and faunal biodiversity. It forms one of the largest contiguous blocks of ‘good’ forest cover in the Southern Western Ghats. This region harbors high levels of endemism and over 15 per cent is under the Protected Area network. Some of the important and unique habitat types found here include wet evergreen forests and sholas in the higher elevations. The Southern Western Ghats is also a priority terrestrial and freshwater ecoregion of the WWF global programme with the entire Western Ghats complex identified as a Global Ecoregion 200.

Older than the Himalaya mountains, the mountain chain of the Western Ghats represents geomorphic features of immense importance with unique biophysical and ecological processes. The site’s high montane forest ecosystems influence the Indian monsoon weather pattern. Moderating the tropical climate of the region, the site presents one of the best examples of the monsoon system on the planet. It also has an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism and is recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity. The forests of the site include some of the best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests anywhere and are home to at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species.

In view of the environmental sensitivity and ecological significance of the Western Ghats region and the complex interstate nature of its geography, as well as possible impacts of climate change on this region, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, constituted, by an order dated 4 March 2010, a Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP).

The Panel was asked to perform the following functions

1. To assess the current status of ecology of the Western Ghats region.

2. To demarcate areas within the Western Ghats Region which need to be notified as ecologically sensitive and to recommend for notification of such areas as ecologically sensitive zones under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. In doing so, the Panel shall review the existing reports such as the Mohan Ram Committee Report, Hon’ble Supreme Court’s decisions, recommendations of the National Board for Wildlife and consult all concerned State Governments.

3. To make recommendations for the conservation, protection and rejuvenation of the Western Ghats Region following a comprehensive consultation process involving people and Governments of all the concerned States.

4. To suggest measures for effective implementation of the notifications issued by the Government of India in the Ministry of Environment and Forests declaring specific areas in the Western Ghats Region as eco-sensitive zones under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

5. To recommend the modalities for the establishment of Western Ghats Ecology Authority under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 which will be a professional body to manage the ecology of the region and to ensure its sustainable development with the support of all concerned states.

6. To deal with any other relevant environment and ecological issues pertaining to Western Ghats Region, including those which may be referred to it by the Central Government in the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Here are the IUCN Listed Western Ghats Endemic Species and their Details

Endemic Trees of Western Ghats

Vateria macrocarpa

Common name: Valiya-vellapayin, Perumpain
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Distribution: Endemic to Southern Western Ghats, restricted to Attapadi hills of Palakkad district, Kerala
Conservation status:Critically Endangered (CR- IUCN Red list), in restricted populations only
Description: Large evergreen trees near stream sides. Resinous exudates present. Flowers white in axillary panicles; peduncle and pedicel densely pubescent. Fruit a large ovoid capsule, 8-12 cm lonf, 4-5 cm diameter, seed one.
Uses: Soft Wood, not much utilized

Hopea erosa

Common name: Eeyakam, Karakongu
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats, in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Conservation status: Critically Endangered (CR- IUCN Red list)
Description: Large trees. Leaves oblanceolate, acute at apex. Flowers greyish yellow in unilateral racemed panicles. Fruit an ovoid nut, with accresent woody calyx.
Uses: Hard timber

Aglaia malabarica

Common name: Chuvanna cheeralam, Chuvanna akil
Family: Meliaceae
Distribution:Endemic to southern Western Ghats
Conservation status: Critically Endangered (CR- IUCN Red list)
Description: Large trees. Leaves pinnate, leaflets 7-11, golden-red in flushing. Inflorescence axillary and terminal panicles, covered reddish-brown peltate scales. Fruit a large capsule, 3-5 cm diameter, ovoid. Seeds 1-3.
Uses: Not evaluated

Cynometra beddomei

Common name: Valliyakoori
Family: Leguminosae- Caesalpinioideae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Kerala and Wayanad
Conservation status: Extinct (EX- IUCN Red list). But after this assessment, the plant was re-located from Agasthyamala 2002 and later from Wayanad. Scattered populations found.
Description: Medium sized tree. Leaves with 3 pair of leaflets, the lower pair small gradually largening to upper pairs, pinkish and drooping when young. Flowers creamy white in axillary clusters. Fruit a reniform-globose pod.
Uses: Highly ornamental in flushing and flowering

Dipterocarpus indicus

Common name: Kalpain, Karanjili
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats, throughout
Conservation status: Endangered (EN- IUCN Red list)
Description: Large evergreen trees, to 35 m height. Leaves large, ovate oblong, to 25 cm long, 10 cm wide. Flowers in axillary racemes, white. Fruit a hard nut, with wings formed of two accresent calyx lobes.
Uses: Timber

Hopea ponga

Common name: Kambakam, Neduvalipongu, Ilapongu
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Distribution: Endemic, throughout Western Ghats, semi-evergreen forests
Conservation status: Endangered (EN- IUCN Red list)
Description: Small trees. Leaves large 10-15 cm long, 3-5 cm wide. Flowers white in axillary unilateral racemes; peduncle brown. Fruit n ovoid nut with two dark brown accresent calyx wings.
Uses: Timber, generally used for making agricultural implements.

Kingiodendron pinnatum

Common name: Kulavu, Ennapain
Family: Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats, throughout
Conservation status: Endangered (EN- IUCN Red list)
Description: Large evergreen trees. Leaves imparipinnate, leaflets 2-7, alternate. Inflorescence axillary and terminal panicles. Flowers white. Pod 1 seeded, ellipsoid, flattened.
Uses: Medicinal oil oozing from cut bark is highly medicinal

Cynometra travancorica

Common name: Koori
Family: Leguminosae- Caesalpinioideae
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala
Conservation status: Endangered (EN- IUCN Red list)
Description: Evergreen trees. Leaves bifoliate. Flowers in short axillary and lateral racemes. Fruit 2-3 cm , flat, woody. Seed one
Uses: Ornamentally potential tree.

Atuna travancorica

Common name: Kallankaimaram
Family: Chrysobalanceae
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, Kerala
Conservation status: Endangered (EN- IUCN Red list)
Description: Medium sized evergreen trees, Leaves simple, elliptic-lanceolate. Flowers pink in axillary racemes. Fruit a sub orbicular drupe, 2-3.5 cm long, 2-3 cm diameter, Seed 1-2.
Uses: Potential timber, ornamental

Madhuca bourdillonii

Common name: Ponavu, Thandidiyan
Family: Sapotaceae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats
Conservation status: Endangered (EN- IUCN Red List)
Description: Large trees to 30 m tall. Young branches and leaves fulvous tomentose. Leaves large, to 30 cm long, 8 cm wide, spathulate, crowded to tip of branchlets. Flowers white, in axillary fascicles. Berry ovoid, 3-4 cm. Seeds 4-5.
Uses: Timber

Vateria indica L.

Common Names: White Damar, Indian Copal, Malabar tallow, Piney varnish
Hindi Names: सफेद डामर safed daamar
Kannada Names: ಬಿಳಿ ಡಾವರು bili daamaru, ಬಿಳಿ ಧೂಪ bili dhupa, ಧೂಪದ ಮರ dhupada mara, ಬೆಳುವ Beluva, ಬೆಳವ Belava
Malayalam Names: കുന്തിരിക്കപ്പൈന്‍ kuntirikkappayin, പയിനി paini, വെള്ളപ്പൈന്‍ vellappayin
Marathi Names: चंद्रुस chandrusa
Oriya Names: ମନ୍ଦଧୂପ mandadhupa, ସନ୍ଦରସ sandarasa
Sanskrit Names: सर्जकः sarjakah
Tamil Names: துருளக்கம் turulakkam, வெள்ளைக்குங்கிலியம் vellai-k-kunki-liyam
Telugu Names: తెల్లగుగ్గిలము tellaguggilamu
Tulu Names: Dhupada Mara, Boldu Dhupa
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats, throughout, on river sides and plains near coastal areas.
Conservation status: Critically Endangered (CR- IUCN Red list)
Description: Large evergreen trees. Resin ooze from cut bark. Leaves large, oblong. Flowers white, in axillary panicles. Fruit ovoid oblong capsule, 5-10 cm long, 3-5 cm diameter.
Uses: Medicine, Soft wood, resin extracted is the white dammer, used as disinfectant, air purifier and mosquito repellent.

Hopea parviflora

Common Names: Irumbagam, Kambagam, Malabar Iron wood.
Kannada Names: ಬೋಗಿಮರ Bogi mara, ಬೋವುಮಾರ Bovu Mara, ಕಿರಾಲುಬೋಗಿ Kiralbogi, ಸಣ್ಣೆಲೆಬೋಗಿ Sannele Bogi
Malayalam Names: Malayalam: Urippu, Irumbogum, Kongu, Thambagam, Iripu
Tamil Names : Irubogam, Pongu, Vellaikongu
Tulu Names: Kiralbogi, Bovu Mara, Bogi Mara
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats, in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Conservation status: Least concern (LC- IUCN Red list)
Description: Large trees, usually on the sides of rivers in medium to low altitudes. Bole straight, usually buttressed; wood very hard. Leaves small, with domatia at axils of lateral nerves. Flowers creamy yellow in unilateral axillary racemes. Fruit a nut with two wings of accrescent calyx. Malabar Ironwood is a tree up to 35 m tall, bole straight, buttressed, bark 6-10 mm, light brown or grey, mottled with white, rough vertically fissured, fibrous; blaze yellowish; branchlets reddish-brown, slightly velvet-hairy. Leaves are simple, alternate; stipules small, lateral, deciduous; leaf-stalk 1.0-1.2 cm, slender, velvet-hairy when young, hairless when matured, grooved above; blade 8-11.5 x 3-5 cm, ovate, lanceshaped or ovate-lanceshaped, base pointed blunt, heart-shaped or subheart-shaped, tip pointed or hairless, apiculate, leathery; lateral nerves 8-12 pairs, pinnate, prominent, intercostae scalariform, faint, domatia present. Flowers are bisexual, 3-4 mm across, creamy yellow, in unilateral at branch-ends and upper in leaf-axils, woolly racemose panicles; sepals 5, 3 mm long, woolly outside; petals 5, 6 mm long, oblong, hairless, fringed at tip; stamens 5, rarely 10, slightly fused; connective of anthers produced into a subulate point; ovary superior, hairless, ovules 2 in each cell; style short, subulate. Fruit is a nut, 5-6 mm long, round, hairless; wings 2, 6 x 1.8 cm, 8-10 nerved, hairless. Wood is brown, close-grained, hard, used extensively in house construction, for planking, as piles for bridges, for making platform boards, agricultural implements, for making railway sleepers and electric poles. It is also used for parts of ships, boat building, road rammers, rice pounders, sets, ladders, engine break blocks, railway keys, picker arms and for decorative wood work and turnery. The bark is considered a good tanning material and is used for tanning especially heavy quality leather. Malabar Ironwood is endemic to Southern Western Ghats. Flowering: January-April.
Uses: High quality timber used for making railway sleepers in old days, building purposes.

Artocarpus hirsutus

Common Names: Anjili, Ayani, Wild Jack
Kannada Names: ಹೆಬ್ಬಲಸು Hebbalasu, ಕಬ್ಬಲಸು Kabbalasu, ಕಾಡುಹಲಸು Kaadu halasu, ಹೆಸ್ವ Hesva, ಹೆಸವ Hesava
Malayalam Names: ആഞ്ഞിലി Anjili, Ayani
Tamil Names: Aiyinipila, அநிலீ Anjili
Tulu Names: Perpela, Pejakai
Family: Moraceae
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats, throughout
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC- IUCN Red list)
Description: Large evergreen trees with straight bole. Milky latex present. Leaves large, broadly ovate elliptic, golden hairy below when young, covered by foliaceous bract in bud.Flowers unisexual, axillary spikes, male narrow, cylindric, female ovoid. Fruit a subglobose syncarp. Seed covered by orange red perianth, edible on ripening. Seed a nut. Wild Jack is an evergreen tree, up to 50 m high, bark 10-15 mm thick, surface dull grey-brown, smooth, warty, exfoliations thin, peeled surface red, fibrous; blaze creamy turning to pinkish-yellow; exudation milky white, sticky, branchlets hairy. Leaves are simple, alternate; stipules up to 4 cm long, lateral, densely tawny bristly; leaf-stalk 1-3 cm long, stout, hairy; blade 13-25 x 7.5-15 cm, broadly ovate, obovate or elliptic, base pointed, blunt or round, tip somewhat pointed or very shortly tapering, margin entire, wavy, leathery, hairless above, hairy-velvet-hairy beneath; lateral nerves 6-12 pairs, pinnate, prominent. Flowers are unisexual, minute, yellowish-green; male in leaf-axils, drooping, in narrowly cylindric spikes upto 15 cm long; tepals 2, united below; stamen 1; anther protruding, ovate, bracteoles chaffy; female flowers in in leaf-axils ovoid spikes; perianth tubular, confluent below with the receptacle; ovary superior, straight, ovule drooping; style protruding; stigma undivided. Fruit is a fleshy multiple fruit (like mulberry), 6-7.5 cm across, spherical or ovoid, echinate, yellow when ripe, the spines cylindric, straight, bristly, perforate at the tip for thread-like style; seeds 16-18 mm long, ovoid, white. Wild Jackfruit is endemic to the Western Ghats and are found in its evergreen forests.
Uses: Widely used Timber tree, often cultivated in homesteads. Fruits and roasted nuts edible, underutilized fruit , once widely used by ethnic and tribal community.

Arenga wightii Griffith

Common names: Wight’s Sago Palm, Wild Coconut
Kannada: ಬೆಟ್ಟ ತೆಂಗು betta thengu, ಕಾಡು ಈಚಲು kaadu eechalu, ಕಾಡು ತೆಂಗು kaadu thengu, ದಡಿಸೆ dadise, ಧೂಢ್ಸಾಲ dhudsal
Malayalam: അലട്ടിത്തേങ്ങ alattiltenna, കാരംപനൈ karampanai, കാട്ടുതേങ്ങ് kattuthengu, മലന്തെങ്ങ് malanthengu, ഞെട്ടിപ്പന njettippana
Marathi: धूडसाल dhudsal
Tamil: ஆலம்பனை alampanai, காட்டுதேங்காய் kattuthengai
Tulu: ಕಾಟ್ ತಾರೆ kaatu thare
Family: Arecaceae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats, throughout, in evergreen forests along stream sides.
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN Red list)
Description: Monoecious palms, to 6 m tall. Stem densely covered with persistant leaf sheaths. Leaves very large, pinnate, silvery coloured below. Male and female spadix separate, in dense clusters of drooping spikes, to 1 m long. Berry globose, 2-3 cm diameter, 3 seeded. Wight’s Sago Palm is a threatened Indian palm species. Trunk is up to 6 m tall, grey, densely clothed with the black fibrous remains of the leaf sheaths. Leaves are compound, pinnate, 3.5-8 m long. Leaflets are up to 30-100 cm x 2-2.5 cm, linear ensiform, apical one often confluent and obconic, apex narrowed, sometimes shortly, unequally 2-lobed, base asymmetricaly auricled, dark green above, glaucous beneath, margin entire or toothed in the upper half. Male and female spadices separated, 1 m long. Berry is hard, spherical, 2-3 seeded. This palm is exploited for making brooms, palm wine and even a unique source of starch. Wight’s Sago Palm is endemic to the Western Ghats – South and Central Sahyadris.
Uses: Leaves used for thatching by forest tribal communities. Toddy taped from inflorescence by tribals

Bentinckia condapanna.

Common Names: Hill Areca Palm, Hill Areca Nut
Malayalam: Names Kanthakamugu, Kantal, Kanthal
Tamil Names: Kantha panai, Varei kamugu, Varukamuvu
Family: Arecaceae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats, south of Palakkad Gap, in Tamil Nadu & Kerala, always in on steep slopes of high altitudes.
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN Red list)
Description: Monoecious palm to 20 m tall. Leaves pinnate, clustered to tip, with sheathing petiole. Spadix branched from axils of fallen leaves below crown. Female flowers few at base of branches, male flowers to top. Ovary 3-celled, but only one cell with ovule, hence fruit 1-seeded. Hill Areca Palm is a palm with a smooth trunk 10 m tall, grey with annulate scaring. It has a sparse crown of arching fronds. Leaves are compound, pinnate, 1.5-2 m long; leaflets 60-75 x 2.5-5 cm, linear oblong, 2-3 united, tip usually bifid; lobes 5-10 cm. Inflorescence: Spadix from axil of fallen leaves just below crown. Spathes are many, membranous, flowers small, sunken in branches of spadix; male flowers scarlet; female flowers lilac or violet, flower-cluster-stalks branched. Fruit is nearly spherical, rather compressed, 1-1.2 cm. in diameter, red, 1-seeded. Hill Areca Palm is endemic to Southern Western Ghats.
Uses: Said to be tapped for toddy

Garcinia wightii

Common name: Pulimaranga, Mysore gamboge, Sour mangosteen, Attukaruka, Kolivala, Pulimaranga, Bhaviyam, Dharambo, Jhrambi
Family: Clusiaceae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN Red list)
Description: Small dioecious trees, on riversides. Latex yellow. Leaves linear lanceolate. Male flowers in axillary fascicles; female solitary, axillary.Fruit a globose berry, 1-1.5 cm diameter, Seeds 3-4.
Uses: Bark and fruits yield an yellow pigment.

Knema attenuata

Common name: Chorapali, Chorapain
Family: Myristicaceae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats, throughout in Myristica swampa and along stream sides.
Conservation status: Least concern (LC- IUCN Red list)
Description: Large dioecious trees. Sap blood red from cut bark. Branching whorled from main stem at intervals. Leaves elliptic lanceolate, golden hairy on back side. Male flowers axillary and laretal in few flowered short racemes. Female flowers 2-3 fascicled, axillary and lateral. Fruit ovoid, 2-valved capsule. Seed single. Aril red.
Uses: Soft wood, Medicinal.

Syzygium occidentale

Common name: Attuchamba
Family: Myrtaceae
Distribution: Endemic to Southern Western Ghats, in revirine vegetation.
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN Red list)
Description: Small trees, on river sides. Leaves lanceolate. Flowers large in few flowered cymes, usually drooping, white, with indefinite stamens. Fruit a ovoid berry with persistent calyx and style. Seed 2-3.
Uses: Not evaluated

Myristica malabaricaLam.

Common name: Kattujathy, Ponnampayin, Malabar Nutmeg
Family: Myristicaceae
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats in riverine evergreen forests and Myristica swamps.
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN- Red list)
Description: Large dioecious trees, buttressed and often with slit roots and pneumatophores. Exudate red from cut ends. Male flowers in axillary or lateral racemes. Female flowers in 3-5 flowered terminal umbels. Capsule large oblong5-7 cm long, 2-3 cm diameter, 2-valved, densely brown pubescent out. Seed one, oblong, brownish, 4-5 cm long, 1-2 cm diameter. Aril yellow.
Uses: Medicinal

Cinnamomum riparium

Common name: Aatuvayana
Family: Lauraceae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats, along stream sides
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN Red list)
Description: Evergreen tree. Leaves linear-lanceolate. Inflorescence few flowered axillary and lateral cymes. Fruit a small one seeded berry.
Uses: Not evaluated

Ochreinauclea missionis .

Common name: Aatuvanchi, Neervanchi
Family: Rubiaceae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats, in revirine vegetation
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN Red list)
Description: Medium sized evergreen trees. Leaves broadly lanceolate, shining green. Flowers yellow in terminal tennis ball like heads. Fruit minute, clustered in a globose fleshy mass. Seeds minute.
Uses: Medicinal

Buchanania lanceolata

Common name: Kulamavu, Malamavu
Family: Anacardiaceae
Distribution: India, Myanmar
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN Red list)
Description: Medium sized evergreen trees. Leaves lanceolate, clustered to end of branchlets. Flowers small, white in terminal racemose panicles. Fruit a drupe, compressed globose, to 1 cm diameter. Seed single, stony.
Uses: Kernel edible

Semecarpus auriculata

Common name: Mamcheru, Vellacheru
Family: Anacardiaceae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats
Conservation status: Near Threatened (NT- IUCN Red list)
Description: Large evergreen trees, with acridc sap. Leaves clustered at tip of branchlets, spathualte, auricled at base. Flowers small, white in axillary panicles. Drupe 1cm diameter, compressed, stony, seated on fleshy hypocarp.
Uses:Soft wood

Humboldtia decurrens

Common name: Kattasokam
Family: Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats, in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. Very rare in scattered populations.
Conservation status: Near Threatened (NT- IUCN Red list)
Description: Small trees in evergreen forests at low elevations. Leaves pinnate, leaflets 5 pairs, drooping when young. Stamens long exsertd. Flowers pinkish white, in dense axillary and lateral fascicles, drooping. Pod compressed, 2-5 seeded.
Uses: Tree with high ornamental potential.

Gymnacranthera canarica

Common name: Undapayin
Family: Myristicaceae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats near streams and Myristica swamps
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN Red list)
Description: Medium sized dioecious trees. Leaves elliptic, acuminate. Male flowers yellow, in axillary panicles. Female flowers few flowered axillary fascicles. Capsule globose, 2-3 cm diameter. Seed one, globose, 2-2.5 cm diameter. Aril reddish.
Uses: Not evaluated, aril used as adulterant of official mace.

Elaeocarpus munroniiWt.

Common name: Kalrudraksham
Family: Elaeocarpaceae
Distribution: Endemic to southern and Central Western Ghats
Conservation status: Near threatened (NT- IUCN Red list)
Description: Evergreen trees of high altitude.Leaves clustered to tip of branchlets, red on ageing. Flowers white in drooping axillary racemes. Drupe oblong, terete, 2 cm long, bluish on ripening. Seeds 1-2.
Uses: Not evaluated

Tabernaemontana heyneanaWall.

Common name: Kundalapala, Koonampala
Family: Apocynaceae
Distribution: Endemic to the Western Ghats
Conservation status: Near Threatened (NT- IUCN Red List)
Description: Small deciduous trees. Milky latex present. Leaves opposite with unequal pairs. Flowers white in terminal cymes. Fruits of two boat shaped recurved follicles. Seeds orange red arillate.
Uses: Medicinal

Hydnocarpus macrocarpa

Common name: Malamarotty
Family: Flacourtiaceae
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN Red List)
Description: Large evergreen trees, mainly riparian. Leaves large, oblong, dark green. Flowers in fascicles on leafless branches, white with hairy brown calyx. Fruit a large globose berry, to 15 cm diameter.
Uses: Medicinal

Nothopegia aureo-fulva

Common name
Family: Anacardiaceae
Distribution: Endemic to Southern Western Ghats
Description: Small trees in evergreen forests. The young branches, petioles and peduncles golden rusty fulvous. Leaves elliptic lanceolate, acuminate, fulvous hairy on nerves below. Flowers in axillary small cymose panicles. Drupe globose, 1-1.2 cm diameter, 1-seeded.
Uses: Not evaluated

Garcinia travancorica

Common name: Malampongu
Family: Clusiaceae
Distribution: Restrictedly endemic to Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)
Description: Medium sized evergreen dioecious trees of higher altitudes. Exudate milky. Leaves narrowly elliptic-oblong, shining, parallel nerved, revolute on margins. Flowers white. Male flowers in terminal trichotomous cymes. Female flowers solitary in upper axils. Fruit an erect subglobose berry, with a persistent discoid stigma. Seeds 1-2.
Uses: Resinous gum medicinal.

Garcinia imberti

Common name: Manjakkanji
Family: Clusiaceae
Distribution: Restricted endemic to Agasthyamal Biosphere Reserve
Conservation status: Endangered (EN- IUCN Red List)
Description: Medium sized evergreen dioecious trees of higher altitudes. Exudation white. Leaves dark green, oblanceolate, acuminate at apex. Flowers yellow, male usually 3-5 in terminal fascicles. Female usually solitary, terminal. Fruit an ovoid, laterally compressed 2-loculed berry, with a beaked apex, rarely one loculed. Seeds 1-2.
Uses: Not evaluated

Garcinia indica

Common name: Punnampuli, Kokkam
Family: Clusiaceae
Distribution: Endemic to Northern Western Ghats, introduced to many parts of Asia, Europe.
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN Red List)
Description: Medium sized evergreen dioecious tree with milky exudate. Branchlets drooping. Leaves reddish when young, obovate-oblong. Flowers greenish-white, male 4-8 in axillary and terminal fascicles, female solitary, terminal. Berry globose, smooth, 2-4 cm diameter, green turning red on ripening,4-8 loculed and seeded.
Uses: A highly utilized medicinal plant. The kOKum butter taken from the seeds is a source of Hydrocitric acid an anti-obesity medicine, widely used.

Myristica beddomei

Common name: Undapayin
Family: Myristicaceae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats
Conservation status: Endangered (EN- IUCN Red List)
Description: Medium sized dioecious trees. Leaves 7-12x 3-4 cm, ovate elliptic, green shining. Flowers small, brown hairy, 3-5 fascicled axillary or on scars of fallen leaves. Capsule globose, 3-4 cm diameter. Seed one, globose.
Uses: Medicinal

Psydrax dicoccos

Common name: Irumbarappan
Family: Rubiaceae
Distribution: Indo-Malesia, China
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN Red List)
Description: Small evergreen trees. Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate. Flowers white, in axillary fascicled cymes. Fruit a compressed globose drupe of two pyrenes.
Uses: Very hard wood used for making handles for agricultural implements.

Calophyllum apetalum

Common name: Attupunna, Cherupunna
Family: Clusiaceae
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats on river banks
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN Red List)
Description: Large evergreen trees. Bark yellowish, fissured. Leaves obovate-round, thick, closely parallel veined. Flowers white, in axillary racemose panicles. Drupe globose, 0.5-0.8 cm diameter. Seed single.
Uses: Medicinal

Santalum album L.

Common name: Chandanam, Shrikand.
Family:Santalaceae
Distribution: India, Malesia
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU- IUCN Red List)
Description: Medium sized evergreen trees of dry areas. Leaves simple opposite, elliptic ovate. Inflorescence terminal and axillary paniculate cymes. Flowers cream turning brown on ageing.Fruit a globose drupe, 0.4-0.5 cm diameter, green turning dark purple on ripening.
Uses: Heartwood yields the most valuable perfumery oil Santal oil. Medicinal and also religious plant.

Calophyllum inophyllum

Common name: Punnag, Punna
Family: Clusiaceae
Distribution: Asia, Africa, Australia
Conservation status: Least concerned (LC- IUCN Red List)
Description: Medium sized trees, in plains, stream sides and as mangrove associate. Leaves broadly elliptic –oblong, parallel veined. Inflorescence axillary racemes. Flowers white, showy with many yellow stamens. Drupe globose, 1.5-2 cm diameter.
Uses: Medicinal

Saraca asoca

Common name: Asokam
Family: Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae
Distribution: Indo- Malaya
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU-IUCN Red List)
Description: Small trees. Leaveas pinnate. Flowers reddish in dense axillary and caulifloroous cymose panicles. Petal absent. Pod falat compressed, 8-12 x 2-2,5 cm. Seeds discoid, 1.5-2 cm diameter.
Uses: Highly medicinal

Endemic Plants of Western Ghats

Memecylon randeriana.

Common name:Kasavu
Family:Melastomataceae
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats
Conservation status: Not Evaluated
Description: Large shrubs or small trees. Leaves lanceolate, round to cordate at base. Flowers blue, densely fascicled axillary or on leafless stem. Berry globose red on ripening.
Uses: Ornamental

Semecarpus travancorica

Common name: Avukkaram
Family:Anacardiaceae
Distribution:Endemic to southern Western Ghats
Conservation status: Not Evaluated. (Vulnerable- India Biodiversity Portal)
Description:Large evergreen trees, with acrid exudation, black on drying. Leaves very large, to 30 cm long, 10 cm wide, spathulate-oblong, crowded at tip of branchlets. Flowers small, greenish-yellow, in axillary and terminal panicles. Fruit 3-4 cm, a stony drupe, compressed and placed on fleshy hypocarp.
Uses: Medicinal

Garcinia gummigutta

Common name: Kudampuli
Family: Clusiaceae
Distribution: Restricted endemic of Wayanad and Nilgiri hills
Conservation status: Not Evaluated
Description: Medium sized dioecious trees. Leaves roundish-eliptic. Male flowers yellow, in axillary and lateral fascicles. Female flowers solitary, terminal. Fruit conical, 4-5 ridged. Seeds 4-5
Uses: Used as an edible fruit in curries

Goniothalamus wightiiHook.

Common name: Malamthelli
Family:Annonaceae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats
Conservation status: Not evaluated
Description: Small trees. Leaves linear-lanceolate. Flowers solitary, axillary, greenish-purple. Fruit aggregate of single seeded berries.
Uses: Not evaluated

Bacccaurea courtallensis

Common name: Mooty maram
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats
Conservation status: Not evaluated
Description: Small dioecious evergreen trees. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, clustered to tip of branches. Male flowers red, formed on old strm in dense spikate racemes. Female flowers in clustered spicate racemes, mainly towards the base of the trunk. Fruit a subglobose capsule, 2-3 cm diameter. Seeds 1-3, with fleshy aril.
Uses: Edible

Kunstleria keralensis.

Common name: Kariveppila Valli
Family: Leguminosae
Distribution:Endemic to southern Western Ghats
Conservation status: Not Evaluated
Description: Large woody climbers. Leaves pinnate, ovate-oblong, rugose-reticulate. Flowers black to dark brown in terminal and axillary racemose panicles. Peduncle and calyx rusty tomentose.Pod flat, 1-seeded.
Uses: Not evaluated

Ormosia travancorica

Common name: Mala-manchadi
Family: Leguminosae-Papilionoideae
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats
Conservation status: Not evaluated
Description:Large evergreen trees. Leaves imparipinnate, clustered to end of branchlets. Flowers in axillary racemes, pale pinkish. Pod woody, elliptic, compressed. Seed 1-1.5 cm diameter, discoid, scarlet red.
Uses: Not evaluated

Humboldtia brunonis

Common name: Malayasokam
Family: Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae
Distribution:Endemic to southern Western Ghats
Conservation status: Not Evaluated
Description: Small trees. Leaves paripinnate, with two pairs of leaflets, drooping when young. Domatia present. Stipules auricled at base. Flowers pinkish in short erect axillary and lateral racemes. Pod flat, woody, 7×3 cm, 2-3 seeded.
Uses: Highly ornamental

Syzygium munronii

Common name: Mala chamba
Family: Myrtaceae
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats
Conservation status: Not Evaluated
Description: Small trees. Leaves lanceolate, gradually narrowing to acuminate tip; midrib canaliculated above. Flowers large in terminal few flowered cymes, drooping, stamens many much exserted. Berry large to 4cm, greenish-pink with persistant calyx.
Uses: Not evaluated

Reference: https://mssbg.mssrf.org/100-trees-list-selected-for-mssbg-conservation/

100 Trees list selected for MSSBG Conservation

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