Nanooravia

Nanooravia is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. The only species is Nanooravia santapaui,  an annual grass, and its native range is Southern India (Kerala, Karnataka).

The genus was circumscribed by MS Kiran Raj and M.Sivadasan, and published in Nord. J. Bot., Vol. 31 on page 161 in 2013. It is characterised by unusual intertwined inflorescence; solitary pedicelled spikelet with keel-less auricled glumes, and long callus covered with golden yellow hairs.

The genus name Nanooravia is in honour of Professor N. Ravi, who is an Indian botanist and environmentalist. His serious efforts were instrumental in recognising the Asramam Biodiversity Heritage Site (ABHS), Kollam, the first in Kerala State.