Globba Andersonii Plant

Subject: Environment

Context:

Researchers have “rediscovered” a rare plant species called Globbaandersonii from the Sikkim Himalayas near the Teesta river valley region after a gap of nearly 136 years.

Concept:

• It is “critically endangered” and “narrowly endemic”, the species is restricted mainly to Teesta River Valley region which includes the Sikkim Himalays and Darjeeling hill ranges.
• Plant usually grows in a dense colony as a lithophyte (plant growing on a bare rock or stone) on rocky slopes in the outskirts of evergreen forests.
• It is especially prevalent near small waterfalls along the roadside leading to these hill forests, which are 400-800 m. above sea level.