Myristica swamps cover 0.004% of Kerala's land area but harbour 16.3% of Western Ghats endemic species

Background

Myristica swamps are unique freshwater swamp ecosystems of the Southern Western Ghats, dominated by Myristica species, a genus of primitive evergreen trees.
The Kerala Forest Department states that these swamps cover just 0.004% of Kerala's total land area.
Even so, they harbor 16.3% of the endemic species of the Western Ghats.
Their existence was first documented in the 1960s by botanist and forest officer Krishnamurthy, in areas like Kulathupuzha, Shendurney and Anchal in the Travancore forests.
They were later classified as "wild swamps" in the 1968 Revised Survey Report on Forest Transitions in India by Champion and Seth.
The trees have stilt roots for structural support and pneumatophores, or breathing roots, with air spaces to respire in oxygen-poor waterlogged soil.
Other notable Myristica swamp areas in Kerala include Arippa, Madathara, Palode and Venkolla.