A research team from SNM College, Maliankara, has reported the discovery of three new plant species from the Pooyamkutty-Edamalayar region, highlighting the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats. The investigations were part of a University Grants Commission-sponsored project on flowering plants of Ernakulam district headed by Associate Professor C.N. Sunil. The discoveries include a medicinal shrub and two plants belonging to the grass family. The findings have been published in the December 2014 issue of the London-based international journal Webbia: Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Phytogeography and the Texas-based Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas . The shrub named Thottea adichilthottiana was collected from the Adichilthotty tribal colony within the Edamalayar forest range. Bearing small yellow flowers, commonly known as ‘cheriya alpam’ among the tribal people, the plant is used indigenously for curing various ailments. It is found in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests at an altitude of 200 to 800 metres. The flowering season is February to May and the fruiting season is April to September. Collected from the Pooyamkutty-Edamalayar forest range, Arundinella pradeepiana comes under the family Poaceae (grass family). Found in wet soils of open rocky grasslands, the plant grows to a height of 30 to 150 cm and is named after A.K. Pradeep, Professor, Calicut University, in honour of his contribution to plant taxonomic studies of the region. The flowering season is October to February. Garnotia variyamensis is a rare species of grass found growing on wet, exposed rocky grassland among mosses. It was discovered near the Variyam tribal settlement in the Edamalayar forest range. The plant attains a height of 15 to 105 cm. August to November is the flowering season. The researchers reported less than 245 mature plants restricted to an area of five sq km. Following the International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria, it has been classified as a critically endangered species. Dr .Sunil said further investigations were on to assess the medicinal properties and commercial potential of the three species.