KARACHI, April 20: Researchers at the Dr A. Q. Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (KIBGE) and the Karachi University Botanic Garden (KUBG) are quite optimistic about their progress on the conservation of two endangered plant species living on the coast of Karachi, the Acacia nilotica ssp. hemispherica and the Cadaba heterotricha.

Amongst other factors, this progress is significant because the acacia, an igloo-shaped plant that grows on dry stream-beds and boasts striking yellow annual flowers, exists nowhere in the world except along the Karachi coast. The cadaba, meanwhile, is rare in Pakistan and is valuable for its medicinal properties.

Three years’ hectic efforts under the guidance of Dr Mohammed Qaiser have resulted in the successful growing of the acacia at the KUBG. For the cadaba, protocol has been developed for the in vitro [the growth of a plant in artificial environment] propagation of the species. The plant is expected to be transferred to its natural environment soon.

“Our team has regularly been visiting Hawkes Bay, Cape Monze, Paradise Point and the adjoining areas since 2005 in order to collect data regarding the natural regeneration of the species and monitor the various threats they are facing in that region,” said Haider Abbas, an assistant professor working on plant conservation at the KIBGE. “The results have so far been very positive; the acacia has been grown in the botanic garden while a number of cadaba plants have been produced through an in vitro culture.”

The Acacia nilotica was named in 1965 by Professor Dr Syed Irtifaq Ali, a former vice chancellor of the University of Karachi, chief editor of Flora of Pakistan and current director-general of the KIBGE. The distribution of the plant, which belongs to the “Mimosaceae” family, is restricted to dry stream-beds near Paradise Point and the adjoining areas. It grows into the shape of an igloo and its main stem vanishes completely over time. It is rendered eye-catching by the yellow flowers that are produced around March and stay until August.

According to Mr Abbas, the cadaba belongs to the “Capparidaceae” family and was first collected from Cape Monze and identified by John Ellerton Stocks in 1852. The original specimen is still preserved at the Royal Botanic Garden in Kew, UK.

“I studied that specimen while undertaking an international diploma in Botanic Garden Management at Kew in 2006,” said Mr Abbas. “It is amazing that the plant remained forgotten for over a century until it was recollected by Professor Dr Mohammad Qaiser in 1967.”

According to Professor Dr M. Qaiser, currently the vice chancellor of the Federal Urdu University for Art, Science and Technology and co-editor of Flora of Pakistan, even in 1967 the plant was found to be “very restricted in its distribution and unable to regenerate.” The specimen he collected 30 years ago is still preserved at KU’s herbarium.

Foreseeing climatic change

Explaining the reasons behind the restricted growth of these plants, Mr Abbas – who has selected some rare, endemic and endangered plants as the subject of his Ph.D. research work – told Dawn that these plants were “in a state of shock” because they were unable to cope up with the rapid changes taking place in their environments.

“God has given every living being the ability to adapt as a necessary tool for survival but for several decades now, rapid climatic changes have been caused mainly by man’s activities and many plant species have undergone acute stress or completely vanished,” he commented. “This holds true for the acacia and the cadaba. The plants produce seeds but fail to germinate because the weather pattern has changed completely and this has adversely affected the plants’ habitat. The acacia and the cadaba strive to survive without the special nutrients available during floods and rain and are necessary for their growth.”

Mr Abbas also explained that the plants face grave danger from the continued activities of construction workers excavating stones from their rocky habitat. “There is a dire need to evaluate the status of these plants in the area,” he warned.

“Their habitat should be protected from foreign intrusions, including the shepherds who bring in grazing cattle from nearby villages.”

Referring to the commercial importance of these plants, Mr Abbas said that both had ornamental value while the cadaba possessed some medicinal properties as well. “Somalians and Arabs used to burn its bark, mixed it with butter and use the ash to heal wounds on livestock,” he explained.

“Furthermore, the cadaba blooms profusely from February to April and from September to December. It can be a good replacement for Clerodendrum inerme (Dum-Dum) as it requires extremely little water. The acacia can also survive in little water, is termite-resistant and can be grown to beautify roads.”

Stressing upon the need to conserve these vanishing plants, Mr Abbas said that both were unique in the sense that their distribution was severely restricted. “Saving their habitat actually means protecting our own very survival,” he pointed out. “Plants are considered the first indicators of any change in the environment. The environmental crisis that we face today is due to the fact that we kept ignoring the call of vanishing plants. If plants are in trouble, it indicates something seriously wrong with the environment and a possible climatic catastrophe in the offing.”