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Dedicated to conserving native plant diversity through research and knowledge for the well-being of people and nature.

Dr Anoop P. Balan

Dr Anoop P. Balan

Qualification: Ph. D (Botany)

Specialization: Angiosperm Taxonomy, Plant identification, Flora documentation, Flora digitalization, Threatened plants conservation, etc.

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Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anoop-Balan?ev=hdr_xprf

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=yrP7RxYAAAAJ

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0608-970X

Dr. Anoop P. Balan has over 15 years of research experience in Plant Taxonomy, flora documentation, and the conservation of threatened plant species. He has discovered several new plant species from the Western Ghats of India, and has authored one book and published more than 40 research papers in reputed national and international journals. He is a recognized expert in Indian Fabaceae and serves as a member of the International Legume Phylogeny Working Group (LPWG). Dr. Anoop is also one of the editors of the World Checklist of Vascular Plants – Fabaceae, a global initiative led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He is a highly regarded resource person in various Regional/National/International Seminars or Conferences conducted in related to Plant Taxonomy, and floristic diversity of Western Ghats.

Key Roles

  • Fellow of Linnean Society, London, since 2024.
  • Expert Member of International Legume Phylogeny Working Group, since 2021.
  • Expert Member of IUCN Species Survival Commission, Western Ghats Plant Specialist Group, since 2021.
  • One of the editors of World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Fabaceae), initiated by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England.
  • Lifetime member of Indian Association of Angiosperm Taxonomy (IAAT), since 2017.
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Fellowships

  • DST-SERB National Post Doctoral Fellowship, 2016.
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Projects

  • Taxonomic and Molecular Biologic studies of the genera Tephrosia Pers. and Vigna Savi (Fabaceae-Papilionoideae) in India (DST-SERB)
  • Preparation of DPR for the conservation of sacred groves in coastal panchayats of Kerala state (KSBB).
  • Assessment of Plant diversity including Aquatic flora, Riparian vegetation etc. in the flood / landslides affected areas of Chaliyar, Korapuzha and Kuttiadi rivers (KSBB)
  • Floristic studies on Indian Cardamom Research Institute campus, Myladumpara, Idukki (ICRI-Spices Board)
  • Studies on the host plants of Flea Beetles in south India (KSCSTE).
  • Studies on the Legume Flora of Kerala State (KSCSTE).
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Key Research achievements

  • Discovered 14 new plant species from the Western Ghats of India.
  • Revised the Genera Tephrosia & Vigna (Fabaceae) for India.
  • Revised the genus Smithia (Fabaceae) for South India.
  • Completed the documentation of the legume flora of Kerala State and published a checklist.
  • Reported the plant family Hanguanaceae first time from India.
  • Recorded invasive plants like Hanguana anthelminthica (Hanguanaceae), Heterocentron subtriplinervium (Melastomataceae) and Desmodium intortum (Leguminosae) first time from India.
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Selected Publications

  • Book: Anoop P. Balan, P.S.Udayan & S.V. Predeep. 2023. Palynotaxonomical studies on selected Indian Endemic Legumes. Exceller Books, Kolkata. ISBN 978-93-93734-30-3
  • Chapter in Book: Anoop P. Balan & A.J. Robi. 2022. Studies on the endemic and threatened flowering plants of Vagamon hills, Western Ghats, India. In: Suhara Beevy et al. (Eds.) Trends in Advanced Biology. ICEIB, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, pa. 128-136. ISBN. 978-81-956634-0-8
  • Anoop P. Balan, S.V. Predeep and P.S. Udayan. 2010. Pollen Morphological Studies on Ten threatened legumes of Kerala State. In: E.P. Yasodharan (Ed.). Proceedings of 22nd Kerala Science Congress, 28-31 January 2010, KFRI, Peechi, p.p. 641-642. ISBN 81-86366-71-7
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Research papers

  • Anoop P. Balan & A.J. Robi. 2025. Ixora gadgiliana sp. nov. (Rubiaceae: Ixorideae), a new species from Southern Western Ghats, India. Adansonia 47(4): 27-30. ISSN 1639-4798
  • Anoop P. Balan, Sreevani C. S. & Predeep S. V. 2024. Phytodiversity of Kumarakom Heronry, a unique habitat of wetland birds in Central Kerala, India. Nelumbo 62(2): 69-81. ISSN 2455 376X
  • Song, Zhuqiu, Xu, Liansheng, Balan, Anoop Puthuparampil, Gaudeul, Myriam, Zhao, Yiyong, Jiang, Kaiwen, Li, Tian and Li, Shijin. 2024. Phylogenomics Reveals a New Generic Delimitation of Asian Millettia, with Reinstatements of Pongamia and Otosema (Fabaceae: Millettieae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 199: 1-34.
  • Robi, A.J., Anoop P. Balan & Sujanapal P. 2024. Eugenia elapparensis (Myrtaceae), a new species from Southern Western Ghats, India and a correction on the lectotypification of Eugenia calcadensis. Phytotaxa 668(3): 272-278. ISSN 1179-3163
  • A.J. Robi, Anoop P. Balan & Thomas V.P. 2024. A new species of Tarenna (Rubiaceae: Ixoroideae) from Kerala, India. Phytotaxa 661 (1): 097–102. ISSN 1179-3163
  • A.J. Robi, Anoop P. Balan & Udayan P.S. 2024. Beilschmiedia keralana (Lauraceae), a new species from Kerala, India. Rheedea 34(1): 01–04.
  • Andrella, GC, Sartori AL, Anoop P. Balan et al. 2022. The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Fabaceae). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Anoop P. Balan & A.J. Robi. 2021. Notes on the extended distribution Impatiens megamalayana, a recently described balsam from Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 13(12): 19878-19883. ISSN 0974-7907
  • Anoop P. Balan, S.V. Predeep & R. Prakashkumar. 2021. Lectotypification of two names in Indian Millettia (Fabaceae-Papilionoideae). Phytotaxa 494(2): 225-230. ISSN 1179-3163
  • Anoop P. Balan & A.J. Robi. 2021. Argostemma quarentena (Rubiaceae, Ruboideae), a new species from southern Western Ghats, India. Webbia 76(1): 47-52. ISSN 2169-4060
  • Anoop P. Balan & S.V. Predeep. 2021. Legumes of Kerala, India: a checklist. Journal of Threatened Taxa 13(5): 8257–18282. ISSN 0974-7907
  • Anoop P. Balan & A.J. Robi. 2021. Eriocaulon meenachilense, a new tuberous species of Eriocaulaceae from the Southern Western Ghats, India. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 336: 1–8. ISSN 1474-0036
  • Anoop P. Balan & A.J. Robi. 2020. Ophiorrhiza meenachilarensis, a new species of Rubiaceae from southern Western Ghats, India. Webbia 75(2): 231-236. ISSN 2169-4060
  • Anoop P. Balan, Anoop K.P., Rajilesh V.K. & N.S. Pradeep. 2020. Hanguanaceae, a new family record for the flora of India. Journal of Japanese Botany 95(4): 240-244. ISSN 0022-2062
  • Anoop P. Balan & A.J. Robi. 2020. A New species and new combination in Indian Gymnanthemum (Vernonieae, Asteraceae). Annales Botanici Fennici 57: 317-319. ISSN 1797-2442
  • Anoop P. Balan, A.J. Robi & R.Prakashkumar. 2020. Heterocentron subtriplinervium (Melastomataceae)-The first report of naturalization of a potential invasive alien species in Asia from India. Acta Botanica Hungarica 62(1–2), pp. 1–6. ISSN 1588-2578
  • Anoop P. Balan & R. Prakashkumar. 2020. Lectotypification of five names in Indian Tephrosia (Fabaceae). Kew Bulletin 75:21. ISSN 1874-933X
  • Anoop P. Balan, Robi, A.J. & Predeep, S.V. 2019. Notes on the extended distribution of Humboldtia bourdillonii (Fabales: Fabaceae), an Endangered tree legume in the Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 11(14): 14886-14890. ISSN 0974-7907
  • Anoop P. Balan, S.V. Predeep, P.S. Udayan & R. Prakashkumar. 2018. Lectotypification of the genus Geissaspis Wight &Arn. (Fabaceae - Papilionoideae). Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy 25(2): 89–94. ISSN 1028-2092
  • Anoop P. Balan, S.V. Predeep and P.S. Udayan. 2017. Vigna sathishiana (Fabaceae): A New species from southern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Japanese Botany 92 (4): 193-198. ISSN 0022-2062
  • Anoop P. Balan and Harikrishnan, S. 2017. Floristic diversity of the Indian Cardamom Research Institute Campus, Myladumpara, Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 9(10): 10804 -10822. ISSN 0974-7907
  • Anoop P. Balan and S.V. Predeep. 2017. A Taxonomic Revision of the genus Smithia Ait. (Fabaceae) in south India. Taiwania 62(2): 175-2014. ISSN 0372-333X
  • Anoop P. Balan and S.V. Predeep. 2016. Note on the occurrence of Dunbaria punctata (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae), a little-known legume from the Western Ghats, India. Rheedea 26(2): 157-160. ISSN 2582-2438
  • Anoop P. Balan & Harikrishnan, S. 2016. Ixora predeepii, A New Species of Rubiaceae from Southern Western Ghats, India. Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy 23(1): 65–69. ISSN 1028-2092
  • Prathapan, K.D. and Anoop P. Balan. 2016. Sastroides besucheti Medvedev (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) is a pest of nutmeg, Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Myristicaceae). International Journal of Tropical Agriculture 56(1): 86-88. ISSN 0254-8755
  • Anoop P. Balan, S. V. Predeep & Harikrishnan S.2014. Desmodium intortum (Fabaceae): A New record for India. Rheedea 24(2): 113–116. ISSN 2582-2438.
  • Prathapan, K.D., Alexander S. Konstantinov, K.M. Shameem and Anoop P. Balan. 2013. First Record of leaf hole shelters used and modified by leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), with descriptions of two new Orthaltica Crotch species from Southern India. ZooKeys 336: 47–59.ISSN 1313-2970
  • Prathapan, K.D. and Anoop P. Balan. 2010. Report of the occurrence of Sweet potato Flea Beetle Chaetocnema confinis Crotch (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Southern India. Journal of Root Crops 37(2): 272–273. ISSN 2454-9053
  • Predeep, S.V. and Anoop P. Balan. 2010. Dalbergia sericea (Leguminosae – Papilionoideae): A New record of introduction in Southern India. Rheedea 20(1): 35–37. ISSN 2582-2438.
  • Predeep, S.V., Anoop P. Balan. and R. Prakashkumar. 2009. Senna septemtrionalis var. pubescens (Caesalpiniaceae)–Recollected after 120 years from Kerala. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 33(4): 818–820. ISSN 2050-9768.
  • Predeep, S.V. & Anoop P. Balan. 2009. Dalbergia malabarica Prain (Fabaceae): A Vulnerable species recollected from Kerala after a century. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 33(4): 821–823. ISSN 2050-9768
  • Predeep, S.V., Anoop P. Balan and R. Prakash Kumar. 2009. Two Legumes (Indigofera – Fabaceae) New to Kerala. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 33(4): 824–828. ISSN 2050-9768
  • Predeep, S.V., Anoop P. Balan and V.P. Prasad. 2008. Senna uniflora (Mill.) Irwin & Barneby (Fabaceae–Caesalpinioideae) – A New record to Kerala. Indian Journal of Forestry 31(3): 435–436. ISSN 0971-9431
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