Western Ghats Yam Species Named After Kerala Cop

A team of researchers from the state have named a new species of yam they discovered in the Western Ghats — Dioscorea balakrishnanii — after a police officer with the Kerala Police.

- AROCKIARAJ J @ Kasaragod

Interestingly, this isn't the first time a plant species is being named after Additional DySP V Balakrishnan.

In 2019, a species discovered in the Shola forests of Wayanad was also named after him — Tylophora balakrishnanii. And with good reason.

Before joining the police force, Balakrishnan, belonging to Aravath in Kasaragod district, was a researcher with the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and was stationed at its Wayanad unit.

He went on to acquire a doctorate in 'Genetic Diversity of Wild Edible Yams of Southern Western Ghats' from Madras University after donning the police uniform. Currently, Balakrishnan is on deputation as the member-secretary of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board.

The researchers who named the plant species after him said Balakrishnan was a pioneer in studying the tuber plant species in Wayanad.