Dicliptera polymorpha

Source: This post on Dicliptera polymorpha has been created based on the article “Scientists discover a new fire-resilient, dual-blooming species of Dicliptera in the Northern Western Ghats of India” published in PIB on 12th November 2024.

Why in news?

Recently, a new plant species Dicliptera polymorpha was discovered in the grasslands of Talegaon-Dabhade in the Northern Western Ghats, India. This region was one of India’s four biodiversity hotspots which is known for its unexplored and unique flora and fauna.

About Dicliptera polymorpha

1. Dicliptera polymorpha is highly fire-resilient, showing a unique pyrophytic habit.

2. Unlike other species, it blooms twice a year. The first bloom follows the monsoon, while the second bloom is triggered by grassland fires in summer.

3. The species features a spicate (spike-like) inflorescence, unique among Indian *Dicliptera* species, with similar structures observed only in African relatives.

4. It thrives in open grasslands prone to extreme weather, including summer droughts and human-induced fires.

5. Life Cycle:

i) Primary Blooming Phase occurs from November to April, shortly after the monsoon season.

ii) Secondary Blooming Phase is triggered by summer fires, leading to a shorter but more abundant bloom from May to June.

6. Adaptation: It develops dwarf flowering shoots from woody rootstocks during fire-triggered blooming, an adaptation to its challenging habitat.

7. Conservation Implications: Dicliptera polymorpha’s limited habitat and fire-dependent lifecycle call for balanced fire management practices.

Conservation efforts are essential to protect the Western Ghats’ grassland ecosystems from overuse and degradation due to frequent fires.

Proper management will help support this species’ survival while preserving the broader biodiversity of the region.

Significance of the Discovery: It highlights the need to preserve the biodiversity of the Western Ghats, which may contain many undiscovered species with unique survival mechanisms. It reinforces the importance of grassland ecosystem conservation in India’s biodiversity hotspots.