8 months ago
3
The Botany Department of Victoria College present is hosting a two-day extravaganza for botany enthusiasts, showcasing an exclusive accumulation of uncommon plants and seeds arsenic portion of its platinum jubilee celebrations.
On Tuesday, the inaugural day, visitors were awestruck arsenic they got to spot and interaction plants they had antecedently lone seen successful photos and videos. The show besides challenged their existing knowledge, offering caller insights into the fascinating satellite of botany.
“We person heard the fashionable Malayalam opus ‘Devadaru Poothu Nin Manasin Thazhavarayil’. But did you cognize that Deodar cedar trees bash not flower? Instead, they turn cones,” explained adjunct prof Alen Alex Philip arsenic students touched the cones successful surprise.
Array of uncommon plants
Visitors were introduced to uncommon plants similar Equisetum, besides known arsenic the golden indicator plant. Rasmi A.R., Head of the Botany Department, explained, “This works is simply a invaluable instrumentality for biogeochemical prospecting, arsenic its tissues tin bespeak the beingness of golden deposits successful the surrounding soil.”
The accumulation featured an awesome array of specimens, including algae, fungi, lichen and bryophytes. A peculiar stall showcased a geological timeline, tracing the improvement of plants from algae to pteridophytes and gymnosperms.
Botany students of the assemblage were connected manus to explicate assorted fascinating plants, specified arsenic bird’s nest fern, walking fern, maidenhair fern and dog’s receptor fern.
Endemic to Palakkad
A uncommon item of the accumulation was Cycas annaikalensis, a cycad taxon recovered lone successful Palakkad. “This works is endemic to our portion and cannot beryllium recovered anyplace other successful the world,” said Mr. Philip, proudly pointing to the taxon discovered successful 2006.
Another uncommon dainty for botanists was the sapling of the Wollemi pine, a critically endangered coniferous histrion autochthonal to Australia. “There are lone astir 20 Wollemi conifer trees near successful the world,” said Mr. Philip.
The accumulation showcased the world’s largest and heaviest seed. “This is the effect of Lodoicea maldivica, a uncommon thenar histrion from the Seychelles. It is celebrated for producing the treble coconut, the largest seed,” said Dr. Rasmi.
Crowd pullers
Other highlights included the snake climber works and Sanjeevani (Selaginella bryopteris), a works steeped successful legend. Known for its quality to past drought by curling up and reviving erstwhile watered, Sanjeevani fascinated galore students. Its notation successful the epic Ramayana added to its allure.
The insectivorous Nepenthes, oregon pitcher plant, was a assemblage puller. Student volunteers enthusiastically explained however the Venus flytrap captures prey by snapping its leaves unopen upon touch. “This works thrives successful nutrient-poor ungraded by supplementing its fare with insects,” they said.
The accumulation showed antithetic types of forests and highlighted the Palakkad Gap successful the Western Ghats. The department’s depository displayed aged and caller farming tools and household items. Student projects and startups were besides showcased. In different section, researchers explained astir plants that tin beryllium harmful, however works cells work, earthy colours from plants and however plants marque nutrient done photosynthesis.
The amusement volition reason connected Wednesday.
