Endangered Species of Plants

The flora (the plants) of India is one of the richest of the world due to the wide range of climate,topology,and environments in the country.There are over 15000 species of flowering plants in India which account for 6% of total plant species in the world. With the prevalent removal of plant and trees many plant species are being destroyed.According to Encyclopedia of earth over 8000 plant species are officially threatened or endangered at every hour.. Between one-fourth of all plants are at some risk.The combination of global warming and habitat destruction is the sole reason for the disappearance of many plants from earth’s face.Though there are thousands of interesting, and unusual plants are there here are some common plants which we have seen thirty years back have become rare and endangered species due to these reasons. Here is the list of plants which have become rare and threatened in India.

SOME ENDANGERED PLANTS

 

Polygala irregularis

Lotus Corniculatus

1.Polygala irregularis Gujarat(rare)commonly known as Milkwort is an annual or perennial herb.Blooms during July and August.The plants are found at an altitude of 1000 meters.The flowers are found in blue ,near white ,pink and white in color.The plants are destroyed due to human habitation and land for agriculture.

2.Lotus corniculatus –Gujarat(rare)this plant belongs to pea family .The plant bear pretty little yellow flowers grow in a circle, at the end of a stem.They are very bright and easily spotted along the roadside.It is used in agriculture as a forage plant,grown for pasture, hay and silage. Plants are perennial, herbaceous similar to some clover.They are also called as bird’s foot refers to the appearance of the seed pods on their stalk.

Amentotaxus assamica

psilotum nudum

3.Amentotaxus assamica-Arunachalapradesh(threatened)otherwise called Assam catkin yew .They are shrubs or small trees found in moist deciduous forest of Assam.It belongs to a species of coniferous trees found only in India.They are found in three regions of Arunachalapradesh that is in Turoo hills,Delei Valley,and in Dafla hills.

4.Psilotum nudum-Karnataka(rare)known asMoa,skeleton,forkfern,whiskfern,is a rootless,leafless,forming a low growing clumps.The plant produces abundant spores which are collected and used for making powder.In Greek the 'Psilo' means bare.The scientific name reflects the plant's appearance where many of the organs which will be normally present in a plant or absent in this plant like leaf.flower,roots..The whisk fern is used as small broom by tying a handful of its branches together.

What happens when "some" plants become extinct?

When some species of plants become extinct,the whole ecosystem of that environment changes or get disturbed depending on its importance which is never the same after its total disappearance.The animal or other plants(which need them for pollination,or saprophytes which live on them,or plants under these trees) which live depending on that plant may also become extinct because of the total loss of this plant.