Abstract


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 <h1>Abstract</h1>
 A study on the Flora of Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary (between 77min. 4' and 77min. 17' East longitude and 8min. 48' and 8min. 58' North latitude) with emphasis on endemic species was carried out during October 1992 - September 1995. The Sanctuary lies along the Arienkavu-Kulathupuzha Valley, in Kollam (Quilon) Revenue District of Kerala and has an area of 100 square kilometer, including the Kallada Dam Reservoir having an extent of 13.72 square kilometer. The altitude varies from 120 to 1550 m, thehighest peak being Alvarakurichi. The Arienkavu-Kulathupuzha Valley is the type locality of several endemic species, many of which are currently placed under various threat categories and some are considered extinct. During the present study 951 taxa (species and infraspecific) were collected and described. They belong to 118 families. Dicotyledons dominate with 715 species belonging to 432 genera and 100 families. Monocotyledons are represented by 236 species under 149 general and 18 families. The top ten families with respect to species richness are Orchidaceae (70 species, 44 genera), Leguminosae (70 species, 43 genera), Poaceae (66 species, 49 genera), Rubiaceae (66 species, 32 genera), Euphorbiaceae (49 species, 25 genera), Asteraceae (29 species,21 genera), Cyperaceae (29 species, 10 genera), Acanthaceae (28 species, 16 genera), Annonaceae (19 species, 13 genera) and Lauraceae (19 species, 8 genera). Among the 118 families, 23 Dicot and 7 Monocot families are represented by one species each. It is estimated that there are about 3, 800 species of flowering plants in Kerala and 1, 272 of them are endemics. Among the 951 species collected from the Sanctuary, 309 are Western Ghat endemics. Of the estimated 1, 272 endemics species, 460 are placed under various threat categories. During the present study 100 species belonging to the threat categories including 10 considered as possibly extinct ones were collected. Two new species viz. Polyalthia shendurunii Basha & Sasi and Ardisia stonei Sasi & Sivar. were described from the Sanctuary during the present study. Zeuxine affinis (Lindl.) Benth. ex Hook, f. is a new record for South India and species such as Bulbophyllum xylophyllum Par. & Rchb., Calamus nagbettai Fernandez & Dey, Cissampelopsis ansteadii (Tadl. & Jacob) Jeffery & Chen, Marsdenia raziana Yoga. & Subram. and M. tirunelvelica Henry & Surbram., collected from the Sanctuary are new records of occurrence for Kerala. The Sanctuary is under severe biotic pressure due to the presence of settlements inside as well as around of the Sanctuary. The devastating rains during November 1992 caused considerable damage to the terrain by way of landslides at several places, flooding of the rivers, uprooting trees, etc. One of the casualties was the family Podostemaceae, which was virtually wiped out from the river courses. Some Begonias and Impatiens that were growing along the riversides were also destroyed during the floods. Despite the natural calamity and biotic pressure, the existing vegetation supports a flora containing several threatened species
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