Botanical Tour September 2011

Botanical  Tour  2011  –  A  Report

A Botanical study cum collection tour was organized ,during September 2011,by the  Department of Botany, The National College, Basavanagudi, Bangalore 560 004 under the patronage of the Principal Dr.M.Leelavathi. She envisaged keen interest in the academic proceedings, trekked the forests, and visited every point of botanical interest almost simulating a sincere student of plant biology. Students of the V semester were guided on the tour by Dr.H.Gokul, Professor & Head, Department of Botany and Prof.D.E.Murthy Rao. The itinerary included an invited visit to the Botanical Garden, Calicut University, which includes a repository of more than 150 species of ‘Ornamental Gingers’, the Spice garden, Green House, Ginger Zone, Medicinal Plant House, Ginger House and Spices House. Dr.Sabu, Professor made elaborate arrangements facilitating the visit very academic. Dr.A.K.Pradeep,Professor of Botany in the Department rendered a demonstration –lecture on the Herbaria. Mr.Alfred,JRF-DST, accompanied the National College party all around the 5 acre- wonderfully maintained Botanical Garden, which has the reputation of being the ‘Best Maintained Botanical  Garden ’ in comparison with any University garden in Asia. Students had the opportunity to observe and study rare species such as Zamia, Gnetum and Victoria.       

The visit to the R&D institute of Arya Vaidya Shala -Centre for Medicinal Plants Research  ( CMPR)  at Kotakal was enriched by the explanation of  Dr.Suresh George and Dr.Sadashiva, Senior Scientists of the institute. Dr.A.B.Remashree, Sr.Scientist, Pharmacognosy gave a  PPT about the research activities of the TATA-DST-DBT-ICMR  funded, Dr Swaminathan - Dr.Abdul Kalam patronized research centre. Students & faculty were fortunate to watch the functioning of LC MS Facility (there are only two such facilities in India). Phytochemical analysis of Raw Drugs was demonstrated.

The visit to The Rappinat Herbarium at St.Joseph’s College,Tiruchirapalli was a very productive experience since its Director Fr.John Britto, personally explained about the Herbarium, herbarium techniques and the need to revitalize Plant Taxonomy. The Rappinat Herbarium has the worldwide reputation as an accredited herbarium recognized by Kew, London and the world Botanical Fraternity. The Director was personally impressed by the interest and interaction of the NCB students in plant taxonomy and even expressed his appreciation as

“Wish you were my students”

Enroute on this academic tour other places of visit included the Guruvayur Temple, Synagogue at Cochin, water ways of Alleppuzha, Tiruvanathapuram, Algae on the rocks at Kanyakumari, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial – Thiruvallavar statue, Madurai and Srirangam.

Thus it was a balanced combination of academic-nature exposure-spiritual and camaraderie journey to enrich the final year B.Sc life science students.

A tour report (technical-botanical) - 10 marks and herbarium submission- 10 marks forms a part of the approved syllabus of the autonomous course in B.Sc (CBZ) at NCB for the V semester practical examination.

The Department of Botany, NCB expresses its deep sense of gratitude to the Principal and Management, NES for the support and encouragement in this regard.