Thiruvananthapuram, the southern-most district of Kerala, lying adjacent to Kanyakumari is physiographically divisible into coastal zone, having and extensive system of backwaters (Kayals), midland zone mostly under cultivation; and mountainous zone consisting of hills of elevations varying between 1000 and 1869 m. Owing to its significant geographic position in the southern end of W. Ghats, varied climate and altitude, the flora of this district has become very rich and diverse. Agastyarkudam (Agastiar Peak), the highest point in the mountainous tract is a unique natural unit possessing a number of endemics, rare and threatened plants and potential resources of economic plants. Since tropical rain forest is entering a period of rapid decline as a world natural resource, Agastyamalai must be regarded as a prime example of this ecosystem in Southern India, requiring urgent conservational practices. In addition to providing an authentic inventory of the plants of this district, the speedy establishment of a biosphere reserve in and around Agastyamalai region in also proposed.
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