Endemic Plants of Bhagwan Mahaveer National Park, Goa - an Analysis Based on their Habitat, Phenology and Life form Types

Bhagwan Mahaveer (Molem) National Park is the only National Park in Goa. It lies on the western escarpment of the Western Ghats. The area harbors 719 species of flowering plants, of which 127 are endemic species. These endemics are distributed along seven major habitat types like plateaus; moist deciduous forests; semi-evergreen forests; evergreen forests; fields; streams, lakes, rivers and open areas other than plateaus. Analysis of life forms for endemic species indicates that herbs are dominant followed by trees. Moist deciduous forests shelter more number of endemics as compared to other habitat type. Leguminosae and Orchidaceae are dominant families amongst endemics. Recent discoveries of new taxa, new distributional records and documentation of 127 endemic species in 107 km² area of the National Park highlights the importance of protected areas in conservation of floral diversity especially endemic species.