Kerala’s last White Pine? Rare tree preserved at Vettikkattumukku in Kottayam

Thalayolaparambu: Forest officials in Thalayolaparambu are protecting an extremely rare tree believed to have been planted during the British colonial period.

Known locally as Cherupine (small pine) and Vellappine (white pine), the tree is being conserved by forest staff at the Government Timber Depot in Vettikkattumukku, Thalayolaparambu.

Scientifically identified as Vatica chinensis, the species belongs to the Dipterocarpaceae family and is found only rarely in the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats.

It is believed that the specimen standing within the Vettikkattumukku Timber Depot compound is the last surviving tree of its kind in Kerala. The seeds germinate during the monsoon season, but their viability is extremely low. If they do not sprout within two or three days, they deteriorate and perish.

Given the species’ rarity, officials collect and nurture the seedlings that emerge at the depot. According to Timber Sale DFO Dr. G Prasad, these saplings are raised in containers and distributed to various parts of Kerala through the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) as part of conservation efforts.

In addition, nature enthusiasts are provided saplings free of cost under the supervision of Vettikkattumukku Depot Officer V.R. Nishanth.

The species is listed in the IUCN Red Data Book as “Critically Endangered,” placing it among the world's most threatened plant species and highlighting the urgent need for its conservation.