​New Fire-Resilient Plant Species Found in Western Ghats

In November 2024, the Department of Science & Technology informed that a team of Indian scientists from the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune has discovered Dicliptera polymorpha, a unique, dual-blooming plant species resilient to grassland fires in India's biodiversity-rich Western Ghats.

• The plant exhibits a second flowering phase triggered by human-induced grassland fires, in addition to its typical post-monsoon blooming.
• This species features spicate inflorescence units, previously unknown among Indian Dicliptera, with its closest relatives found in Africa.
• Discovered in Talegaon-Dabhade, the species thrives in open grasslands exposed to extreme conditions like droughts and frequent fires.

Dicliptera polymorpha highlights the need for balanced ....