A STUDY ON CORRELATION AND ASSOCIATION OF CHARACTERS OF EXACUM TETRAGONUM ROXB. IN NORTH KERALA, INDIA

Western Ghats provide asylum to several endemic plants. Exacum tetragonum Roxb. is one of the important herbs inhabiting hilly tracts and midlands Kerala, state India located towards south-western side Ghats. The plant used for treating fever, stomach disorders, gout, diabetics, eye diseases. It also found associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-helminthic anti-hyperglycemic activities. Correlation association characters this medicinal was analyzed based on observations thirteen salient morphological recorded from twenty three populations species distributed across Malappuram, Thrissur, Kozhikode Palakkad Districts Kerala State India. All studied such as height, number leaves, flowers, inflorescences, leaf length, breadth, peduncle pedicel internodal area, mean stem girth, branches fresh weight plants showed statistically significant variations between populations. Number flowers positive correlation maximum (ten characters) whereas leaves minimum (two characters). By factor analysis, two factors could be extracted lead character. Significant variability regard indicates strong genetic base in field. However, drastic changes its habitat various reasons can certainly cause severe threats continued existence hence appropriate actions conserve natural habitats are vital.