Question

An endangered species of Indian medicinal plant is
A. Podophyllum
B. Ocimum
C. Garlic
D. Nepenthes

Answer 1

Hint:-Endangered species are organisms belonging to a particular species that are on the verge of extinction, either globally or in a particular geographical/political area. These are usually listed in the Red List produced by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature & Natural Resources).

Complete answer:
India’s glorious agricultural lands are home to a large and rich biodiversity of plants of which 1 of 5 parts are medicinal species. India has two of the 34 recognized hotspots due to the diverse range of climatic conditions it possesses owing to its unique topography. However, due to overexploitation and anthropogenic activities, several of these species have gone extinct or are facing the risks of extinction. In addition, species conservation methods are also challenging for these plants because they do not produce seeds or produce those that are too small to germinate in soils or produce a poor quality variety of plants. A viable way of conservation lately has been the propagation of such plants in plant culture repositories.
The IUCN Red List’s objective is to bring attention to compelling concerns related to population and conservation to prevent extinction.
Among the given options, garlic and Nepenthes are not native to India, and Ocimum is not endangered.
Thus, the right option is A.

Note:- Nepenthes, the carnivorous “monkey cups” or “pitcher plants” have also been enlisted as an endangered species, however, it is not an Indian medicinal plant. It is native to the Philippines, South China, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Madagascar, and Australia regions.