A Study on Plant Diversity of Iringole Kavu, Ernakulam, Kerala State

Abstract

Sacred groves are the patches of pristine forest that nurture rich biodiversity and play a principal role in the conservation of endemic and rare species. The present study was conducted to identify and enumerate the plant diversity of Iringole Kavu (sacred grove) of Ernakulum district of the state of Kerala. A total of 142 plant species were documented which include three vulnerable species and 18 endemic species. Among them 129 are angiosperms, two are gymnosperms, seven are pteridophytes and four belong to fungi. Angiosperms include 36 herbs, 23 shrubs, 41 trees and 29 climbers. Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Moraceae, Acanthaceae and Apocynaceae are the dominant angiosperm families. The study revealed the occurrence of two critically endangered plant species viz. Ixora johnsonii (Rubiaceae) and Vateria indica (Dipterocarpaceae).