The Shola-grassland montane climax ecosystem of the Upper Nilgiris Plateau in the highlands of the Western Ghats are regarded as globally important. Since they date back to the Gondwanaland mega-continent, they are referred to as 'living fossils'. It is therefore no surprise that the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) - the very first in all of India, is considered as the main centre for floral speciation in the Western Ghats, with around 150 species that are endemic to this miniscule area.