Preserving Native Plant Species

Importance of Native Plant Species

India is said to have over 15,000 plant species, which accounts for 6% of the world’s plant species. This diversity in plant life is a result of millions of years of evolution. However, throughout history, India has been the center of gathering of various cultures and civilizations, ranging from the Turks to the Portuguese and even to the British. We can thus guess that they would too bring their culture from their homeland to India. Researchers and various botanists, and scientists have noticed now the steady decline of native plant species as a result of competition from foreign varieties.

The way plants reproduce is through flowers; and not just the pretty kind. The male gametes combine with female gametes which are called fertilization. This is how seeds are formed. Now, these seeds can be without a covering i.e. naked seeds, or covered seeds i.e. in a fruit. There are various ways these seeds are spread or dispersed away from their parent plant such as through wind, water, clinging to animals, insects, etc. which mainly covers the naked seeds. Fruits, on the other hand, are often consumed by animals, including humans, and in the process, the seeds get dispersed. The number of seeds depends on the plant but it wouldn’t be a small number nor would it be spread over a small area of land.

Milkwort, Jeemikanda, Spiderwort, Bird’s foot, Assam Catkin Yew, Malabar lily, Musli, Skeleton fern, Umbrella tree, Thuthi, etc. are some of the plant species found in India. Of course, they would all have different names in Hindi. Every state in India has its own native plant life. This variance is caused due to differences in weather, temperature, rainfall pattern, topography, etc. For example, we would find more xerophytic vegetation in Gujarat or Rajasthan and we would find tropical plants in say Kerala or Tamil Nadu.

Native plant life is like one of the country’s identities. These plants and all wildlife coexist with one another and depend on each other for shelter, food, breeding ground, regulation of climate, and overall survival. Native animals find it a lot easier to be in a mutual relationship with a plant species they recognize and are familiar with it. A highly common symbiotic relationship is between a bumblebee and a lichen. Not to mention we humans have also found many uses for these native species which we still utilize today. The plant life in an area affects almost all the characteristics of that area.

The benefits of native plants most often lie beneath our feet. The roots of native plants form symbiotic relationships with bacteria that result in the production of nitrogen, an irreplaceable element, needed in plant growth and soil productivity. The presence of this nitrogen would boost nutrients in the soil and thus would be extremely beneficial for all plants in that soil area. The areas below the ground around plant roots; known as the rhizosphere; are hubs for friendly bacteria that feed on the plant proteins and sugars that roots secrete. This activity can be regarded as similar to the activities taking place on the surface and these microorganisms will ultimately have a positive effect on the soil and subsequent plant community. Plant roots are also crucial in the stabilization of topsoil, particularly in areas where floods are common.

There is a term used for a species that takes over the space of a native variety. It is called an invasive species. These alien species may begin to have negative consequences in the new habitat and completely dominate the area which once belonged to the native species of flora. Humans have been one of the major contributors to this. They bring foreign species which look beautiful and may have benefits but they are a competition to the native species. As a result, either both or one of the species gets damaged or ultimately killed.

Perhaps the most significant effect of these invasive species is the loss of habitat. For example, the health of many forests is in danger by kudzu vines, introduced from Japan as an ornamental plant. This plant was distributed across the United States as a means of erosion control and as a source of food for grazing animals. This vine soon became invasive and began to overgrow entire forests. In the process, it prevented sunlight from reaching the trees, ultimately killing the forest. Also, the weight of the thick growth of vines on trees can cause trees to break and fall over. This is but one example of plant species that have caused widespread harm to native species. In India, the alien species which have caused some environmental harm are Alternanthera philoxeroides (or alligator weed), Cassia Uniflora, Chromolaena Odorata, Eichhornia Crassipes (or water hyacinth), Lantana Camara, Parthenium Hysterophorus ( famine weed ), Prosopis Juliflora (mesquite).

This type of invasion from foreign species and the gradual decline of native species takes place not only in plants but also in animals. In a habitat, there is a balance between predator and prey, animal and plant, which ensures the survival and growth of both species. There are biological adaptations that certain animals develop over millions of years in order to face a particular danger. But with a new kind of creature entering the habitat, the defensive mechanisms are rendered useless. Of course, this is an article about plant species and not animals. The protection of native plant species will only bring about a positive and advantageous effect on the environment, climate, wildlife, and habitat; thus, maintaining the ecological identity of India and preventing it from going extinct. As people of India, it would be a disgrace if we didn’t preserve our beautiful natural history. If we can preserve wildlife, why not plant life?