This is an archive article published on February 27, 2025
Pune research team conducts first-ever study of vegetation on Western Ghats cliffs
Smrithy Vijayan, a plant ecology researcher from the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune was studying the plant communities on the basalt cliff faces of the Western Ghats when she came across the interesting resurrection or rehydrating plants. “These plants on cliffs can lose 90-95 per cent of their water in the dry period and […]
The Western Ghats have different types of rock types but this team chose to work on basalt cliffs that spans only on the south of Gujarat, entire Maharashtra, north of Goa and Karnataka. (Express File)
Smrithy Vijayan, a plant ecology researcher from the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune was studying the plant communities on the basalt cliff faces of the Western Ghats when she came across the interesting resurrection or rehydrating plants. “These plants on cliffs can lose 90-95 per cent of their water in the dry period and still survive, only to regain or re-hydrate, sometimes in less than an hour, when water is available,” she says.
She and her team tried experiments on such plants, finding their water content in wet and dry periods and also using time lapse. “It was very interesting to observe how, within a certain time span, these plants could become dehydrated and enter into a dormant stage and, then, become re-hydrated,” she says.
With Smrithy as the lead researcher, the team studied 39 locations of the Western Ghat basalt cliffs, spanning altitudes of 100 m to 1300 m, and documented 231 plant species that are found there. They classified these plants into nine types according to their diversity in their function or adaptation to an extreme harsh condition.
“Another interesting find was that a large part of basalt cliffs are covered with the abundance of carnivorous plants, the Utricularia striatula and Utricularia graminifolia. Known as Bladderwort in common language, growing on a nutrient deficient surface, these plants have bladders in their roots that are very minute that capture and digest insects and microorganisms to derive nutrients,” says Smrithy. “Another plant type called legumes are plenty on cliffs that have nodules in their roots, through which they fix atmospheric nitrogen for themselves and also distribute it to other species nearby”, she adds.
There are many interesting plant species that escape and tolerate the extreme conditions that Smrithy and her team studied over four years of fieldwork in the northern Western Ghats.
The team, which include Aboli Kulkarni, Rohan Shetti, lead scientists of The Green Concept, Institute for Carbon Assessment and Restoration Ecology, Bhushan Shigwan, botanist with Oikos-Pune and Mandar Datar, scientist of ARI, Pune – have released the findings in the paper, “Floristic composition and plant functional type diversity of the basalt cliffs of Western Ghats, India”.
“The general perspective is that rocky habitats are barren and neglected habitats, as people are more interested in studying fertile and productive ecosystems. Since this was the first such study in India, we wanted to see how plants are thriving on a unique vertical habitat, the pattern of vegetation and how it is distributed with respect to the current environment. There are many challenges we had to face to do this work since there was no reference,” says Smrithy.
“We found that with an increase in the altitude, the plant diversity patterns were changing according to the availability in rainfall and sun exposure or temperature. Plants that could tolerate the extreme heat, and situations of little or no water, are dominating higher altitude drier cliffs while plants that depend on water sources are dominating on the cliffs in the low and middle altitudes”, she adds.
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The Western Ghats have different types of rock types but this team chose to work on basalt cliffs that spans only on the south of Gujarat, entire Maharashtra, north of Goa and Karnataka.
“Where we carried out our work, we found many rare, endangered and endemic plants that are not known to others,” says Smrithy. She adds that the rocky outcrops are “ rich in plant diversity, and the species are highly important, in medicinal, ecological and economic ways”. “People don’t know about it. We wanted to increase the knowledge about this kind of habitat, its fertility and natural qualities and whether efforts should be made to conserve this,” says the researcher.
Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life.
Professional Background
Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint.
Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series).
Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season:
1. Climate & Environment
"Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week.
"How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site.
"Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner.
2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage
"Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle.
"Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport.
"The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle.
3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc"
"Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema.
"Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups.
"How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor.
Signature Style
Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune.
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