ENDEMIC TAXA OF RANIPURAM HILLS IN THE SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS OF KASARAGOD DISTRICT, KERALA

The present study is an attempt to explore endemic taxa occurring in the Ranipuram hills in the Southern Western Ghats region of Kasaragod district and to identify habitat preference and diversity of life form type and current threat status of the plants. A total of 46 endemic taxa were culled out of 302 taxa eneumerated from the study area. The maximum number of endemic taxa belongs to Acanthaceae (13%) followed by Lauraceae and Gesneriaceae (8% each). Analysis of the habit reveals that among the endemics 35% (16 Spp.) of plant species were herbs, 30% (14 Spp.) were trees, 26% (Spp.) were shrubs and 9% (4 Spp.) were Climbers. Present study also identifies two near threatened and one vulnerable species. The Identification of endemic taxa is important in the biodiversity conservation and they have specific ecological niche.