A team of botanists from Palakkad has made a significant discovery in the southern Western Ghats by identifying a new plant species named Anaphalis sahyadrica. This species, part of the sunflower family, was found in high-altitude montane grasslands and shola forest margins, particularly in areas like Anamudi and Meesapulimala. The discovery was part of the doctoral research conducted by S. Remya from the Department of Botany at Government Victoria College, Palakkad, under the guidance of Maya C. Nair, the Principal of Government Arts and Science College, Tholanur, and K.M. Prabhukumar, a Senior Scientist at the National Botanical Research Institute in Lucknow. The findings were published in the botanical journal Novon, Volume 34. Dr. Nair noted that Anaphalis sahyadrica is a subshrub that thrives at elevations above 2,200 meters. It is characterized by its smooth, hairless leaves with three prominent veins and can reach a height of about one metre, producing 90 to 120 white, hemispherical flower heads. This discovery adds to the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats, highlighting the ecological significance of the region.