Abstract

In the catchment and submergible areas of the six dams proposed to be constructed for the Pooyamkutty hydroelectric project, there are seven species of the Clove genus Syzygium Gaertn. (Myrtaceae) . Four of them, namely Syzygium laetum (Buch. -Ham.) Gandhi, S. mundagam (Bourd.) Chithra. S. munronii (Wt.) Chandr. and S. occidentale (Bourd.) Gandhi are species endemic to southern Peninsular India. The paper elucidates their distribution in South-West India and population status within the project area, pointing to their significance as endemic, wild germplasm relatives of the cultivars S. aromaticum (L.) Merr et. Perr. (Clove) and Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston (Rose-apple)