Researchers from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in the city recently discovered 305 species of geophyte plants thriving in the Northern Western Ghats and the Konkan region, all thanks to a remarkable ability - these plants store nutrients in underground organs such as bulbs, corms, tubers or rhizomes and can remain dormant for long periods to survive harsh conditions. They have been described as some of the toughest flora on the planet.