Inventory of Endemic and Threatened Flora of Three Sacred Groves in Kannur District, Northern Kerala, India

The study was conducted in three sacred groves which are located in three distinctive regions of Kannur district of Kerala. Data were collected using square quadrats (20 x 20 m size) randomly placed on the forest floor of each selected site. Vegetation structure and floral composition were assessed to invent the plants present there. A total of 107 species were identified from the Poongottu kavu constituted of trees, shrubs, herbs etc. 38 species from Thaya kavu and 43 species from Chekkicheri kavu were identified. Ferns, Nonvascular plants, gymnosperms and lianas were mostly observed in these groves. Endemism was mostly observed in Poongottu kavu and most of them found as threatened. 17 endemic species including the abundant Myristica malabarica was identified. 11 threatened plants were also found out. A critically endangered tree species, Vateria indica identified from the Poongottu kavu which also estimated as the endemic tree to southern Western Ghats.