It has a tuberous root and climbs by using the surrounding vegetation as support | Photo credit: Special arrangement
View of a new species named after Annamalai Chettiyar. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Two botany students from Annamalai University in Chidambaram and their guide discovered a new plant species from the grape family. Found in the Southern Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, in Villupuram district, during a climb to the 290-foot-high Sanjeevi Hill for plant documentation, the species was named Cyphostemma annamalaii after the university’s founder, Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiyar.
“It has a different morphology than others in related species. For example, Cyphostemma setosum, a related species, starts with one leaf and ends with three leaves, and has an ovoid fruit that is red. The petals are greenish-white in the upper half, then turn reddish brown. It also has medicinal properties and is used to treat stomach ulcers and antimicrobial anemia. It is antimicrobial. a climber with a round fruit that is yellow, the petals of the flowers are white or yellow, starts with three leaves and ends with three leaves.Currently pursuing PhD under A. Rajesh of Department of Medical Botany, Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai.
L. Mullainathan, Professor and HOD of Botany, Annamalai University, explained that the family Vitaceae Juss, commonly known as the grape family, comprises more than 1,000 species belonging to 20 genera, of which Cyphostemma is the second largest genus consisting of nearly 250 species. It occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. “Students found the plant at an altitude of 86 m in the tropical dry forest of Panaimalaipettai,” he added.
Mr. Manikandan said the plant grows in open, scrubby vegetation. It had a tuberous root and climbed by using the surrounding vegetation as support. “In one year we documented 287 species found on the hill. The local people use a lot of these plants. Some are used as fodder and others for medicinal purposes. They also collect wood for fuel and honey from tall trees in the dense forest area. It is also a sacred grove and has two temples – one attributed to Perumal, which is located in a cave, such as the temple of Shivan sawing animals, and the other We s. porcupines, garden lizards, butterflies and eagles, there are no stairs leading to the temples,” he added.
Mr. Rajesh explained that the species was officially published in the journal Phytotaxa in March 2026. “A herbarium of dried plants was submitted to St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchi, and the Botanical Survey of India, Coimbatore. This find was reviewed by Vitaceae experts, which means that Cyphostemma indeed has a new local species that does not even have a local name.”
Published – 07 May 2026 16:08 IST
