New 'critically endangered' fern discovered in Tamil Nadu’s Koli Hills
Research Matters Staff Writer(s) Kolli hills, Eastern Ghats 10 Aug 2026 A team of Indian botanists has discovered a rare new species of fern within the misty Kolli hills of the Eastern Ghats. The plant, named Pteris madhusoodananii , was identified by researchers from Government Victoria College and Sri Vyasa NSS College in Kerala during a series of scientific expeditions in Tamil Nadu. The…
In the misty Kolli hills of the Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu, researchers from Government Victoria College and Sri Vyasa NSS College in Kerala have discovered a new fern species named Pteris madhusoodananii. This rare find carries an urgent classification as 'Critically Endangered' due to its restricted habitat and vulnerability to human encroachment.
The identification came during a taxonomic review of ferns in southern India, where researchers noticed a fern population that differed from known records. To confirm, they collected samples for laboratory analysis using physical measurements, electron microscopy, and DNA sequencing. The new fern stands out with stiff, leathery leaves of a deep green, a prominent lobe at the lower segment bases, and a unique pinna-pinnule arrangement.
It is named in honor of Professor Dr P. V. Madhusoodanan, a prominent Indian botanist. The fern’s conservation status is critical, as it is currently found only in two small areas totaling eight square kilometres, which face threats from road construction, logging, and farmland conversion. Immediate conservation efforts are urgently needed to protect this newly discovered piece of India’s biodiversity.
Written by urgent.news from Research Matters India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
