The status and conservation of Malabar River-lily (Crinum malabaricum) (Liliopsida: Amaryllidaceae)

Abstract

The Malabar river-lily (Crinum malabaricum Lekhak & S.R.Yadav) is endemic to northern Kerala, south-western India, it was described new to science in 2012. It is native to seasonal rivers flowing over laterite at 80-100 m above sea level, in an area of approximately 5 x 10 km in Kannur and Kasaragod Districts. Populations are limited upstream by reaches involving steeper gradients with faster flow and downstream by deeper water over silt. It typically forms dense stands covering the entire channel with leaves forming a dense mat as water levels drop. Population counts suggest that the global population is more than 25,000 individuals. All known populations are abundantly fertile, flowering and setting seed abundantly from early September to late November. C. malabaricum is a major ecosystem architect, providing shelter for fish and invertebrate communities. Overall, known populations of C. malabaricum may be considered stable and relatively secure, although there is potential for local actions to affect all populations. The apparent absence of a mechanism for formal protection of sites supporting C. malabaricum highlights the need for surveys of potentially suitable habitat within the known range of the species, as well as for monitoring of all known populations to identify population trends.