Rare, Endangered and Threatened Climbing Plants of the Southern Western Ghats Hills, India

Dhruv Patel; Jigitsa Patel; Dilipkumar Patel

doi:10.36808/if/2025/v151i8/170844

Rare, Endangered and Threatened Climbing Plants of the Southern Western Ghats Hills, India

Authors

Dhruv Patel Biology Department, B.K.M Science College, Valsad, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat – 395007, Gujarat
Jigitsa Patel Biology Department, B.K.M Science College, Valsad, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat – 395007, Gujarat
Dilipkumar Patel Biology Department, B.K.M Science College, Valsad, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat – 395007, Gujarat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2025/v151i8/170844

Keywords:

Climbers, RET species, Western ghats, South Gujarat, Biodiversity conservation.

Abstract

This study assesses the conservation status of rare, endangered, and threatened (RET) climbing plant species in the southern Western Ghats of South Gujarat, India. This research aims to identify and document the RET climbing plants in this ecologically significant region. Field surveys were conducted between 2022 to 2024 to collect and identify RET-listed climbing species across various forested hills in South Gujarat. The collected specimens were systematically preserved, catalogued, and identified using standard taxonomic references. A total of 285 climbing plant species, belonging to 125 genera and 41 families, were recorded. Among these, 31 species were classified as RET, including Ceropegia mannarana and Gloriosa superba which are endangered, while Celastrus paniculata, Aganosma cymosa, Smilax wightii and Corallocarpus gracilipes were categorized as rare. The most species-rich families included Asclepiadaceae (7 species), Convolvulaceae (5 species), and Fabaceae (4 species), with other families contributing fewer species. The increasing pressure from anthropogenic activities, including over-exploitation of natural resources, is negatively impacting biodiversity, leading to a decline in many species. To prevent further loss, urgent conservation measures are needed to safeguard the endemic flora of the southern Western Ghats. Effective protection strategies must be developed to ensure the survival of these unique plant species.

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