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Rhododendron Tree Palni Hills. The Western Ghats hosts a number of endemic species of plants and animals. Several of these have distant Himalayan cousins, like this endemic Rhododendron tree(Rhododendron arbroreum nilagiricum). Although it is a distinct species, it has relatives in the Himalayas, as well as Sri Lanka! This suggests a very ancient link between the Himalaya, the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. Scientists believe that changing climate and geological conditions have isolated these populations. This species of Rhododendron tree grows on high altitude grassy slopes in the southern Western Ghats. (December 1999)