This Week Plant – Hildegardia populifolia

Hildegardia populifolia is a threatened plant belonging to the family Malvaceae. The species is endemic to narrow zones in southern India mainly in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu with fragmented and limited population. It prefers a dfeier habitat.This deciduous tree of about 20m height has distinct pale green bark. The leaves are green, ovate and three or five lobed. The flowers are purple with leathery perianth and visited by several bird species. The World conservation monitoring centre has categorized H.populifolia under critically endangered. After 15 years, a research team located the species in Anantapur, Kadapa and Chittoor. In a recent assessment based on distribution studies H.populifolia is placed under vulnerable category which need a relook perhaps. The extremely restricted distribution and low population size highlight the species precarious conservation status and the urgent need for protective measures. Green Ahalia has initiated ex situ conservation of the species by procuring seedlings from Yogi Vemuna University, Kadapa and introducing them in our RET garden.

For more details: greenahalia@ahhkv.org