Kathalekan Marsh Nut :: Semecarpus kathalekanensis

Bad at Goodbyes :: Episode 040

On today’s show we learn about the Kathalekan Marsh Nut, a critically endangered flowering tree native to the southwestern of India, in the marshlands of the Western Ghats.

• (00:05) Intro
• (02:05) Species Information
• (25:44) Citations
• (27:55) Music
• (33:17) Pledge

For more information about Kathalekan Marsh Nut and Myristica swamp conservation see the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment at https://www.atree.org/projects/roadmap-to-restoration-developing-an-ecologically-sensitive-restoration-model-for-myristica-swamps-in-karnataka/ 

Research for today’s show was compiled from:

• Bioremediation, Biodiversity and Bioavailability 4 (Special Issue I), Global Science Books, 54-68. 4. Chandran, M D & Rao G, Ramachandra & KV, Gururaja & Ramachandra, T V. (2010). “Ecology of the Swampy Relic Forests of Kathalekan from Central Western Ghats, India.” – http://www.globalsciencebooks.info/Online/GSBOnline/images/2010/BBB_4(SI1)/BBB_4(SI1)54-68o.pdf
• Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. LIFE Trust and Snehakunja Trust. College of Forestry, University of Agricultural sciences Dharwad, Sirsi. 2010-2015. Narasimha Hegde, Shrikanth Gunaga, Andrew “Jack” Tordoff, Medha Hegde, M D Subash Chandran. “Towards ecological restoration of critically endangered freshwater swamps in central Western Ghats: Blending sustainable cultural practices with scientific methods” – https://snehakunja.org/public/assets/pdf/CEPF/Annex%20I%20Participatory%20restoration%20of%20swamps.pdf 
• Conservation Leadership Programme c/o Birdlife International. 2003- 2004. Tambat, Bhausaheb. “Conservation of the Myristica Swamps - the highly threatened and unique ecosystem in the Western Ghats, India.” – https://www.conservationleadershipprogramme.org/project/conservation-myristica-swamps-india/
• Down to Earth 14 Jan 2008. Kirtiman Awasthi. “Revival plan for a disappearing tree”. – https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/revival-plan-for-a-disappearing-tree-3973
• Exploring the Mysterious World of Freshwater Swamps: A Documentary. Eco Films. 2023. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOxuoxxiAi0
• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T175212A1419302. Deepu, S. & Ravikanth, G. 2021. “Semecarpus kathalekanensis.” – https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T175212A1419302.en
• Jalplavit Vol. 15 No. 1. Feb.-March 2025. Priya Ranganathan. “Kathalekan Myristica Swamp: A Paradise (Nearly) Lost” – https://pubhtml5.com/kfjv/exmk/Jalaplavit_Feb_March_2025/
• Planta Medica v 77. 2011. PJ Hurakadle, MK Parashetti, HV Hegde. “Antimicrobial studies on Semecarpus kathalekanensis” – https://doi.org10.1055/s-0031-1282910
• Restoration Methodologies and Conservation Strategies Conference. Vasudeva R, Raghu H.B, Suraj P.G, Uma Shaanker R, Ganeshaiah K.N. 2002 “Recovery of a Critically Endangered Fresh-Water Swamp Tree Species of The Western Ghats” – https://wgbis.ces.iisc.ac.in/energy/lake2002/proceedings/8_2.html
• Wetlands Ecology and Management. v. 30. Ranganathan, Priya & Ravikanth, Gudasalamani & N A, Aravind. (2022). “A review of research and conservation of Myristica swamps, a threatened freshwater swamp of the Western Ghats, India”. – https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-021-09825-5
• Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Ghats

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A note on accuracy: I strive for it! These episodes are well-researched and built from scholarly sources, hoping to provide an informed and accurate portrait of these species. That said, I’m an ambient musician! I am not an academic and have limited scientific background. I may get things wrong! If you are using this podcast for scholarship of any kind, please see the cited sources and double-check all information.