- An endangered species is a native species that faces a significant risk of extinction in the near future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Such species may be declining in number due to threats such as habitat destruction, climate change, or pressure from invasive species.
- The term endangered species can be used either in a general or legal context. When used in a general sense, the term describes a species that faces a risk of extinction but does not necessarily indicate that the species is protected under any law.
- When used in a legal context, the term refers specifically to a species that is listed on the US Endangered Species List and is defined legally as an animal or plant species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
- According to a report published in the scientific journal, ‘Science,’ between 22% and 47% of the world’s plant species are endangered.
- The flora of India is one of the richest in the world due to the country’s wide range of climate, topology, and environment. There are over 15,000 species of flowering plants in India which account for 6% of all plant species in the world. Many plant species are being destroyed, however, due to their prevalent removal.
- Roughly 1/4 of all plant species in the world are at risk of being endangered or going extinct. The combination of global warming and habitat destruction is the sole reason for the disappearance of many plants. Though there are thousands of interesting and unusual plants, here are some common plants which have become rare and endangered species in the past 30 years due to habitat destruction.
Endangered Plants in India
|
Plant
|
Also Known As
|
Region (Status)
|
|---|---|---|
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Polygala irregularis
|
Milkwort
|
Gujarat (rare)
|
|
Lotus corniculatus
|
Bird’s foot
|
Gujarat (rare)
|
|
Amentotaxus assamica
|
Assam catkin yew
|
Arunachal Pradesh (threatened)
|
|
Psilotum nudum
|
Moa, skeleton, fork fern, and whisk fern
|
Karnataka (rare)
|
|
Diospyros celibica
|
Ebony tree
|
Karnataka (threatened)
|
|
Actinodaphne lawsonii
|
|
Kerala (threatened)
|
|
Acacia planifrons
|
Umbrella tree, kudai vel (Tamil)
|
Tamil Nadu (rare)
|
|
Abutilon indicum
|
Indian mallow, thuthi (Tamil) and athibalaa (Sanskrit)
|
Tamil Nadu (rare)
|
|
Chlorophytum tuberosum
|
Musli
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
Chlorophytum malabaricum
|
Malabar lily
|
Tamil Nadu (threatened)
|
|
Nymphaea tetragona
|
|
Jammu (endangered), Kashmir (threatened)
|
|
Belosynapsis vivipara
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Spider wort
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Madhya Pradesh (rare and endangered)
|
|
Colchicum luteum
|
|
Himachal Pradesh (rare and threatened)
|
|
Pterospermum reticulatum
|
Malayuram, Malavuram
|
Kerala (rare), Tamil Nadu (threatened)
|
|
Ceropegia odorata
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Jeemikanda (Gujarat)
|
Gujarat, Melghat Tiger, Rajasthan, and Salsette Island, (endangered)
|