About Ophiorrhiza echinata:
- It is a new species of coffee
- It was discovered in the highly biodiversity-rich shola forests of the Western Ghats at Devikulam in the Idukki District of Kerala.
- It grows in the ecotone region between evergreen forest and grassland vegetation at an elevation of 1,630 m above sea level and may have medicinal potential.
- It belongs to the family Rubiaceae and is closely related to the genus Ophiorrhiza mungos, which is a key ingredient in cancer treatment and antidote preparations.
- Ophiorrhiza echinata has so far only been collected from the type locality.
- The area of occupancy is estimated to be less than four square kilometres, and the known populations contain a maximum of only 35 plants.
