Aparna Prasad and Binu Thomas. / European Journal of Environmental Ecology. 2015; 2(2):108-122.

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POTENTIAL ORNAMENTAL FROM MEENACHIL TALUK OF KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, KERALA, INDIA

Aparna Prasad and Binu Thomas*

PG Department of Botany, Deva Matha College, Kuravilangad, Kottayam - 686 633, Kerala, India.

Corresponding Author Article Info

Dr. Binu Thomas Received 13/04/2015; Revised 29/04/2015; Email:- [email protected] Accepted 20/05/2015

ABSTRACT The present paper highlights the diversity of sculpting gardens into a form of art and fashioning them ornamental potential plants from Meenachil taluk of into expressions of philosophical belief. From the 1970s Kottayam district, Kerala. As a result of present onwards there has been a remarkable resurgence in investigation, There are 98 taxa belonging to 80 genera in worldwide interest in ornamental plants which resulted in 37 families were documented. The ornamental renewed efforts to search for and develop new ornamental potentiality of documented is mainly based plants. This trend is continuing to this day [3]. Ornamental on their attractive flower colour, good looking habit and plants used in horticulture should be understood as an various plant parts with their beautiful appearance. The expression of the human desire not only to improve the present study also emphasizes safe conservation and quality of life but also to ensure survival. This may sustainable uses of wild resources are essential for future include everything from producing a steady, secure generations. supply of selected and improved fruits, vegetables and other crops, to the creation of beauty, concentrated in a Keywords: Ornamental Plants, Meenachil Taluk, given location, in the form of a garden as a work of art [4, Kottayam District, Kerala. 5]. These gardens have a unique status among the other forms of art, because of the living, earthy and spatial INTRODUCTION qualities they bring to our daily reality [6, 7]. Most of the Wild flora is very important in view of aesthetic present day flowers have come from the wild progenitors, and recreational value for man. Human beings have a few of which still exist in natural habitat [8]. Plants always had a vital interest in plants of all kinds. In ancient exercise a strong, positive influence on human behavior. times a knowledge of which plants were useful, generally The various wild ornamentals are raises their aesthetic as food and other purposes such as medicines, fibers, values in indoors and outdoors [9]. The domesticated wild dyes, religious and ornamental purposes [1]. Such plants are propagated in various horticultural methods Ornamental plants are grown usually for the purpose of such as cuttings, grafting, budding and seeds also. The beauty, for their fascinating foliage, flowers and their ornamental horticulture is to be the main pathway for the pleasant smell. There is still scope for some special type introduction of native plants to a country [10, 11]. of plants bearing attractive tiny flowers for gardening in urban areas, inside houses, offices, banks, hospitals, MATERIALS AND METHODS hotels and other buildings as ornamental plants have The present study was based on an extensive become very popular [2]. survey and field observations during the year 2013 – Mankind has enjoyed a long historical 2014. In this study attempts were made to find out various relationship with plants, using them as objects of beauty, plants with different ornamental potentialities were 108 | P a g e

Aparna Prasad and Binu Thomas. / European Journal of Environmental Ecology. 2015; 2(2):108-122. collected from Meenachil Taluk of Kottayam district, as Malvaceae (7-species), Asteraceae (6-species), Kerala. The documentation was mainly based on the field Caesalpiniaceae (6-species), (5-species), observation, discussions with local peoples as well as Lamiaceae (4-species) Rubiaceae (4-species), scrutinizing the literature review. During the field visits, Verbanaceae (3 species) and all other families with 2 and the plant specimens were collected at different 1 species respectively (Fig. 3). reproductive stages to prepare herbarium specimens. The The analysis were found that, a total of 71 genera collected specimens were identified taxonomically with of dicotyledons were represented. In polypetalae Hibiscus is the help of available floras and literature [12,13,14]. The the first dominant genus with 3- species followed by nomenclature of each species has been brought up to data Crotalaria, Desmodium, Senna and Sida with 2- species as per the rules given in the International Code of respectively and all others having 1- species each. In Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN). The specimens were gamopetalae Ipomoea and Merremia are the dominant genera processed for the preparation of Herbarium by standard with 3- species each followed by Asystasia, Barleria, methods [15]. The voucher specimens were deposited in the Clerodendrum, Evolvulus and Justicia with 2- species Herbaria of Department of Botany, Deva Matha College respectively. In Monochlamydeae Ficus is the dominant genus Kuravilangad, Kottayam for future reference. with 2- species and all others having 1- species each. While in , out of 9 genera represented and STUDY AREA Commelina are the dominant genera with 2- species Meenachil taluk followed by all others possess 1- species each. Meenachil taluk of Kottayam district, Kerala is In order to infer the total life forms of lies in the North-Eastern region of Kottayam district ornamental flora of the study area reveals that, Herbs are (9.36° N and 76.17° E) (Fig. 1 A-B) The area is blessed more dominant form in which 51 species followed by with diversified habitats such as lush paddy fields, hills shrubs with 25 species, climbers or ramblers or vines and hillocks, highlands and different crop plantations. It possess 13 species Trees 9 species (Fig. 4). has a tropical climate. The humidity is high and rises to The ornamental potentiality of collected plant about 90% during the rainy season. This area gets rain species is mainly based on their attractive flower colour, from two monsoon seasons, the South-west monsoon and good looking habit and various plant parts with their the North-east monsoon. The average rainfall is around beautiful appearance. The present observation on 3600 mm per year. The South-west monsoon starts in ornamental potentiality of 98 plant species collected from June and ends in September. The North-east monsoon the study area was categorized based on their season is from October to November. Pre-monsoon rains attractiveness of flower (80 species), good looking habit during March to May are accompanied by thunder and (15 species) and beautiful fruits and seeds (3 species) lightning; the highest rainfall during this period in (Table 2). The various attractive flower colour is observed December. January and February are cooler, while March, as Yellow (25 Nos.), Purple-pink (23 Nos.), White (15 April and May are warmer. The temperature ranges Nos.), Blue (10 Nos.) and red (7 Nos.) (Fig. 5). between 38.5 °C and 15 °C. Though food crops like One of the most interesting parts of gardening is paddy and tapioca are cultivated mainly, majority of the propagation. Horticultural importance of these potential population depends on cash crops like rubber and black plants are also valuable. The various propagation methods pepper for income [16]. mainly through seeds, cuttings, divisions etc. The present study reveals that, Out of 98 ornamentals collected from RESULTS AND DISCUSSION different localities of Meenachil taluk of Kottayam The present study was undertaken to enumerate district, are propagated through various manners such as the diversity of ornamental potential plants from seeds (74 Nos.), cuttings (13 Nos.), root stocks (6 Nos.), Meenachil taluk of Kottayam district, Kerala. There are tubers (2 Nos.), Rhizome and nodal branches (3 Nos.) 98 taxa belonging to 80 genera in 37 families were (Fig. 6). documented. Dicots are dominating with 31 families and Diversity of wild ornamental potential plants in monocots with 6 families. Among dicots, the group Mannavan shola forest of Southern Western Ghats, Kerala polypetalae with 16 families, 30 genera and 36 species, was studied by Binu Thomas et al. [17]. According to gamopetalae with 11 families, 36 genera and 45 species, their survey they noticed that, there are about 35 species monochlamydeae with 4 families, 5 genera and 6 species. belonging to 18- families and 27- genera were identified In monocots 6 families are spreading over 9 genera and as potential ornamental plants. They also highlights some 11 species. (Table 1& Fig. 2). points like, the lack of suitable management and In order to infer the dominant families of unsustainable utilization of wild resources may lead it to angiosperms Acanthaceae is the first dominant family become rare and endangered. While studying the with 10 species, Convolvulaceae is the second dominant chasmophytic diversity of Velliangiri Hills by Binu family with 9- species, Fabaceae is the third dominant Thomas et al. [18]. They noticed that, there about 30 family with 8 species. The other dominant families such ornamental chasmophytic species belonging to 20 109 | P a g e

Aparna Prasad and Binu Thomas. / European Journal of Environmental Ecology. 2015; 2(2):108-122. families were collected from the rock crevices of species of potential ornamental plants and their Velliangiri Hills of Southern Western Ghats of Tamil domestication practices were discussed from Gudalur Nadu, India. These potential ornamental chasmophytic Taluk of Nilgiri district, Tamil Nadu. Similarly the plants possess an attractive habit, foliage and flowers, it assessment and horticultural approach on wild ornamental also possess certain biological peculiarities for adapting plants of Coimbatore district was done by Aravidhan et rock crevices. al. [20]. According to their study, there are about 41-plant Potential ornamental plants and their species belonging to 23-families were identified as wild contribution to the domestic gardens and landscape plants with ornamental potential and these plants are architecture practices were studied by Delna Joseph et al. commonly used to grow in gardens for their aesthetic [19]. According to their studies, there are about 146 appeal.

Table 1. Analysis of total floristic elements of ornamental plants Floristic Analysis Dicots Families Genera Species Polypetalae 16 30 36 Gamopetalae 11 36 45 Monochlamydeae 4 5 6 Monocots 6 9 11

Table 2. List of ornamental plants from Meenachil taluk, Kottayam Mode of Ornamental S. No Botanical name Family Habit Phenology propagati potential on 1. Charming climbing Seeds Abrus precatorius L. Fabaceae Climber Dec. – Mar. habit with attractive (Kunni) red colour seeds Flowers with Abutilon indicum (L.) Malvaceae Throughout Seeds 2. Shrub alluring golden Sweet. (Vadathutti) the year yellow petals Acacia auriculiformis A. Tree with attractive 3. Mimosaceae Tree Dec. – Apr. Seeds Cunn. ex Benth. (Acacia) leaves and spike Beautiful prostrate Alysicarpus monilifer (L.) Prostrate Throughout Seeds 4. Fabaceae habit with pink- DC. Prodr. herb the year violet flowers Beautiful habit with Anisomeles indica (L.) O. Lamiaceae Throughout 5. Herb small scented violet Seeds Ktze. (Karinthumba) the year flower Marvelous cup and Seeds, Asclepia curassavica L. Asclepiadaceae saucer shaped red 6. Herb Feb. – Nov. stem (Kammalchedi) and yellow cuttings petals Asparagus racemosus Liliaceae Armed Throughout A lovely vine Tuber 7. Willd. (sathavari) vine the year Asystasia chelnoides Nees Beautiful whitish 8. Acanthaceae Herb Dec. – Jan. seeds (Murikootipacha) violet flowers Asystasia gangetica (L.) Stunning pink- Seeds 9. Acanthaceae Herb Jan. – Feb. T. And. (Upputhali) white flowers Gorgeous habit Rooted Bacopa monnieri L. Scrophulariaceae Succulen Throughout 10. with attractive branches (Neerbrahimi) t Herb the year white flowers Barleria buxifolia L. Acanthaceae Charming white 11. Shrub Nov. - Mar. Seeds (Rosemullippoond) flowers Barleria prionitis L. Acanthaceae Sub Charming golden Seeds, 12. Nov. – Jan. (Chemmulli) shrub yellow flowers stem

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cuttings Good looking Bauhinia malabarica Small Seedlings 13. Caesalpiniaceae Sep. – Dec. leaves and large Roxb. (Mantharam) tree white flowers Pretty habit with Biophytum sensitivum Oxalidaceae Throughout fascinating pinnate Seeds 14. Herb (L.) DC. (Mukkutti) the year leaves and small yellow flowers Blepharis An attractive small maderaspatensis (L.) Prostrate Throughout 15. Acanthaceae whitish-violet Seeds Roth. (Hema kandi) herb the year colour flowers

Attractive red or Caesalpinia pulcherrima Throughout Stem 16. Caesalpiniaceae Shrub yellow (L.) Sw. (Rajamalli) the year cuttings inflorescence Good looking habit Calotropis gigantea (L.) with attractive Stem 17. R. Br. (Erikku) Asclepiadaceae Shrub Dec. – May whitish-violet cuttings flowers

An attractive Catharanthus roseus (L.) Throughout 18. Apocynaceae Herb salvar- shaped Seed G. Don (Nithya kallyani) the year corolla Centrosema pubescens Fabaceae Seeds 19. Twiner Sept. – Jan. Pleasing pink petals Benth. (Kattupayaru) Attractive white- Chassalia curviflora Throughout purple flowers and 20. (wall. ex Kurz.) Thw. Rubiaceae Shrub Seed the year purple or black (Vellakurinji) fruits Good looking Cissus quadrangularis L. succulent nature of Stem 21. Vitaceae Rambler Jun. – Jan. (Changalamparanda) habit cuttings

Cleome rutidosperma DC. Erect Beautiful small 22. Cleomaceae May-Nov. Seed (Neelavela) herb violet flowers Clerodendrum An attractive crown Sub 23. paniculatum L. Verbanaceae Sep. – Mar. like red Seeds shrub (Krishnakireedam) inflorescence Clerodendrum viscosum Sub Throughout An attractive white 24. Verbanaceae Seeds Vent. (Perivelam) shrub the year inflorescence Good looking Clitoria ternatea L. Fabaceae climbing habit with Seeds 25. Herb. May - Oct. (Sankupushpam) attractive violet flowers. Good looking Stem Coccinia grandis (L.) Dec. - Mar. 26. Cucurbitaceae Vine climbing habit cuttings Voigt

Attractive creeping Commelina benghalensis Creeping 27. Commelinaceae Nov. - Jan. herb with blue Seed L. (Vuzhaipadathi) herb flowers Good looking blue Creeping 28. Commelina clavata Clarke Commelinaceae Jun. - Nov. flowers Seeds herb

Costus speciosus (Koenig) An attractive habit Rooted 29. Zingiberaceae Herb Sep. – Oct. Smith (channa) and flowers branches 111 | P a g e

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Crossandra Charming yellow Herb Throughout 30. infundibuliformis (L.) Acanthaceae flowers Seeds erect the year Nees (Manjakkurinji) Rooted Crotalaria retusa L. Sub- Dec. – Apr. Attractive yellow 31. Fabaceae stem (Kilukilukki) shrub inflorescence cuttings Crotolaria verrucosa L. Fabaceae Erect Throughout Seeds 32. (Kilukiluppa) Beautiful flowers herb the year

Curculigo orchiodes Throughout An attractive Tuberous 33. Hypoxidaceae Herb Gaertn. (Nilappana) the year. yellow perianth roots Cyanotis cristata (L.) D. Commelinaceae An attractive habit Nodal 34. Herb Nov. – Jan. Don. and cyme cuttings Pretty spreading Cyanotis fasciculata Commelinaceae Spreadin Nodal 35. Sep. – Dec. habit with charming (Heyne ex Roth) Schult. g herb cuttings purple flowers Cyperus difformis Linn. Cyperaceae Tufted Fascinating tufted Root 36. Sept. –Dec. Cent. herb herb stocks Good looking tree Delonix regia (Boj. ex with beautiful 37. Caesalpiniaceae Tree Apr. – Jun. Seed Hook.) Rafin. (Gulmohar) crown of red or yellow flowers Desmodium Gorgeous prostrate Fabaceae Prostrate Seeds 38. heterophyllum (Willd.) Nov. – Mar. herb with trifoliate herb DC. (Sheppunerunji) leaves An attractive Seeds, Desmodium triflorum (L.) Fabaceae Prostrate Throughout 39. prostrate spreading rooted DC. (Cherupulladi) Herb the year herb cuttings Seeds, Drymaria cordata Edgew. Caryophyllaceae Diffuse Throughout Gorgeous diffuse 40. plant & Hook. (Puliarai) herb the year herb cuttings Elephantopus scaber L. Seeds 41. Asteraceae Herb Oct. – Jan. Good looking habit (Anachuvadi) Good looking habit Emilia sonchifolia (L.) Seeds 42. Asteraceae Herb Dec. – Apl. with attractive DC. (Muyalcheviyan) corolla Euphorbia pulcherima Stem 43. Euphorbiaceae Shrub Dec. – Mar. Good looking habit wild. ex Klotzsch. cuttings An attractive Evolvulus alsinoides L. Convolvulaceae Prostrate Throughout 44. prostrate herb with Seeds (Vishnukaranti) herb the year blue flowers Beautiful prostrate Convolvulaceae Throughout 45. Evolvulus nummularis L. Herb habit with white Seeds the year flowers Ficus benghalensis 46. Moraceae Tree Aug. – Nov. Good looking tree Seedling L.(Peraal) 47. Ficus religiosa L. (Arayal) Moraceae Tree Mar. – Nov. Good looking tree Seedling An attractive vine Liliaceae Oct. - Mar. 48. Gloriosa superba L. Herb with good looking Tuber

flowers Charming climbing Hewittia malabarica (L.) 49. Convolvulaceae Twine Nov. – Mar. habit with cute Seeds Suresh yellow flowers 50. Hibiscus hispidissimus Malvaceae Shrub Sep. – Jan. Attractive large Seeds

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Griff. (Matthippuli) yellow flowers Erect attractive Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Stem 51. Malvaceae Shrub Sep. – Dec. shrub with red (Chembarathi) cuttings flowers Hibiscus schizopetalus An attractive red Stem 52. (Dyer) Hook. f. Malvaceae Shrub Aug. - May flowers cuttings (Tookuchemparuthi) Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Lamiaceae Sub- Beautiful blue 53. Nov. – Apr. Seeds Poit. shrub colored flowers An attractive plant Impatiens balsamina L. with red, pink, 54. Balsaminaceae Herb Jul. – Oct. Seed (Balsam) purple and white flowers. Ipomea cairica (L.) Sweet Throughout Lovely violet 55. Convolvulaceae Vine Seeds (Kolambipoo) the year flowers Good looking Ipomoea obscura L. Twining Throughout 56. Convolvulaceae yellowish - white Seeds (Thiruthali) Climber the year flowers Ipomea pes-trigridis L. Twining Throughout Delightful blue 57. Convolvulaceae Seeds (Pulichuvadi) Climber the year flowers Throughout Attractive bunch of Stem 58. Ixora coccinea L. (Thechi) Rubiaceae Shrub the year red flowers cuttings An attractive habit Stem Jatropha gossypifolia L. Throughout 59. Euphorbiaceae Shrub with beautiful red cuttings (Seemayavanakku) the year flowers or seeds Stem Justicia adhatoda Medick. Acanthaceae Throughout 60. Shrub An attractive spike cuttings (Adalodakam) the year

Attractive habit Acanthaceae 61. Justicia japonica Thunb. Herb Oct. – Dec. with small pink Seeds

flowers Attractive Lagerstroemia speciosa Medium- inflorescence with 62. Lytharaceae May. – Jul. Seeds (L.) Pers. (Manimaruthu) tree pink or purple flowers Delightful 2-lipped Leucas aspera (Willd.) Lamiaceae 63. Herb Nov. – Feb. white corolla and Seeds Link. Enum. (Thumba) habit An attractive habit Melastoma Throughout Seeds 64. Melastomaceae Shrub with charming malabathricum L. the year violet flowers An attractive Merremia tridentata (L.) prostrate herb with Seeds 65. Convolvulaceae Twiner Dec. – Jan. (Thalaneeli) cream-yellowish flowers Merremia umbellata (L.) Attractive white Seeds 66. Convolvulaceae Vine Mar.-May Hall. (Vayara) flowers Charming flowers Merremia vitifolia Burm.f. Seeds 67. Convolvulaceae Twiner Dec. - Jan. with lemon yellow (Manjakolambi) corolla Prostrate 68. Mollugo oppositifolia L. Mulluginaceae Jan.– Dec. Good looking habit Seeds herb Murdannia dimorpha Beautiful blue Seeds 69. Commelinaceae Herb Jul. – Nov. Dalz. flowers

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Attractive small Murraya paniculata (L.) Throughout white scented Seeds 70. Rutaceae Tree Jack. (Maramulla) the year flowers and red fruits Attractive deep Mussaenda glabrata Scandent yellow flower and Stem 71. (Hook.f.) Hutch. ex Rubiaceae Apr. – Nov. shrub good looking leafy cuttings Gamble (Vellila) sepals Attractive trifoliate Naregamia alata Wight & Woody- leaves with small Young 72. Rutaceae Sep. – May Arn. (Nilanaragam) herb white scented seedlings flowers Orthosiphon aristatus Under- Throughout An attractive white 73. (Blume) Miq. Lamiaceae Seed shrub the year inflorescence (Poochameesa) Beautiful white- Passiflora edulis Sims Throughout 74. Passifloraceae Vine purple flower with Seed (Passion-fruit) the year good looking habit Good looking tree Peltophorum pterocarpum 75. Caesalpiniaceae Tree Jul. – Dec. with attractive Seed DC. yellow flowers Peperomia pellucida (L.) Succulen Nov. – Apl. Beautiful succulent Rooted 76. Piperaceae Kunth. (Mashipatcha) t herb habit plantlets A good looking Pennisetum polystachion 77. Poaceae Herb Sept. – Dec. habit with attractive Seeds (L.) Schult. spike inflorescence Urticaceae Succulen Throughout Enchanting small Rooted 78. Pilea microphylla (L.) t Herb the year succulent herb branches Plumbago zeylanica Linn. Sep. – Mar. Chamming white Stem 79. Plumbaginaceae Herb (Vellakoduveli) flowers cuttings An attractive violet 80. Ruellia tuberosa L. Acanthaceae Herb Nov. – Feb. Seed flower Good looking 81. Rubia cordifolia L. Rubiaceae Herb Nov. – Mar. Seeds prostrate habit Attractive habit Rungia parviflora (L.) 82. Acanthaceae Herb Sep. – Jan. with small white Seeds Clarke flowers Senna alata (L.) Roxb. Attractive yellow 83. Caesalpiniaceae Shrub Feb. – Dec. Seeds (Puhukkadikonna) flowers Senna tora (L.) Roxb. Sub- Throughout Beautiful yellow 84. Caesalpiniaceae Seed (Thakara) shrub the year flowers An attractive Sida cordata Burm. f. Seeds 85. Malvaceae Herb Aug. – Dec. prostrate herb with (Vallikurunthotti) yellow flowers Sida rhombifolia L. Charming yellow Seeds 86. Malvaceae Shrub Oct.-Mar. (Kurunthotti) flowers Beautiful purple Solanum nigrum sensu Throughout 87. Solanaceae Herb berry fruits with Seed (Mani thakkali) the year white flowers Spilanthes calva DC. Enchanting yellow 88. Asteraceae Herb Oct.- Nov. Seed (Kuppamanjal) florets A good looking Stachytarpheta Verbanaceae 89. Herb Dec. – Mar. sessile light blue Seed jamaicensis L. flowers

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Stem Tecoma stans L. Bignoniaceae Throughout Charming yellow 90. Shrub cuttings, (Thangarali) the year flowers seeds Thevatia nerifolia Juss ex Throughout An attractive habit stem 91. Apocynaceae Tree Steud. (Manja-arali) the year with yellow flowers cuttings Torena bicolor Dalz. Scrophulariaceae Beautiful dark blue Seeds 92. Herb Sept. – Jun. (Kakkapoo) petals Trianthema Semi- Throughout Beautiful prostrate Rooted 93. portulacastrum L. Aizoaceae succulent the year habit branches (Thazhuthama) herb Triumfetta rhomboidea Tiliaceae Erect Pleasing flowers in Seeds 94. Sept. – May Jacq. herb leaf opposed cymes Urena lobata L. Throughout Charming pink 95. Malvaceae Shrub Seed (Uthiram) the year flowers Good looking habit Vernonia cinerea L. 96. Asteraceae Herb Nov. - May with pink to purple Seed (Puvankurunnila) capitula Charming Vicoa indica L. 97. Asteraceae Herb Dec.- Mar. inflorescence with Seed (Kammalchedi) yellow rays Wedelia chinensis Throughout Attractive yellow 98. (Osbeck) Merr. Asteraceae Herb Seed the year flowers (Manjakunjunni)

Fig. 1-A) Map of India Showing Kerala State Fig. 1-B) Map of Kottayam district showing Meenachil Taluk

Figure 2. Floristic analysis of ornamental flora of the Figure 3. Dominant ornamental families of the study study area area

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Figure 4. Life form analysis of ornamental plants Figure 5. Flower colour analysis of ornamental plants

Figure 6. Analysis of different mode of propagation methods

PLATE – 1

A) Cleome rutidosperma DC B) Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet

C) Sida rhombifolia L D) Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC.

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E) Impatiens balsamina L F) Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack. PLATE – 2

A) Naregamia alata Wight & Arn. . B) Cissus quadrangularis L.

C) Abrus precatorius L. D) Clitoria ternatea L.

E) Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw. F) Senna alata (L.) Roxb.

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PLATE-3

A) Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth. B) Melastoma malabathricum L.

C) Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. D) Passiflora edulis Sims

E) Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt F) Trianthema portulacastrum L. PLATE-4

A) Chassalia curviflora (wall. ex Kurz) Thw. B) Rubia cordifolia L. 118 | P a g e

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C) Elephantopus scaber L. D) Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr.

E) Plembago zeylanica Linn. F) Thevatia nerifolia Juss ex Steud. PLATE-5

A) Calotropis gigantea (L.) R. Br. B) Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker-Gawl.

C) Merremia tridentata (L.) Hall.f. D) Solanum nigrum L. 119 | P a g e

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E) Torena bicolor Dalz. F) Tecoma stans (L.) Kunth. PLATE-6

A) Asystasia chelnoides Nees. B) Ruellia tuberosa L.

C) Clerodendrum paniculatum L. . D) Orthosiphon aristatu (Blume) Miq.

E) Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth. F) Jatropha gossypifolia L. 120 | P a g e

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PLATE-7

A) Ficus benghalensis L. B) Costus speciosus (Koenig) J. E. Smith

C) Curculigo orchiodes Gaertn. D) Gloriosa superba L.

E) Cyanotis fasciculata (Heyne ex Roth) Schult. F) Cyperus difformis Linn.

CONCLUSION The results of the present study indicates that the towards nature in the urban environment, which has led to beautiful ornamental potential plants collected from the an increased interest and greater appreciation of the value Meenachil taluk of Kottayam district, Kerala is very of nature in cities. Such changes reflect greater awareness important factor for the contribution of biodiversity of an of nature amongst the general public and also influence existing area. The lack of suitable management and the management of urban green space through gardening. unsustainable utilization of wild resources may lead it to Keeping ornamental plants in indoor not only become rare and endangered. The safe conservation and complement the room furnishing but also create a pleasant sustainable uses of wild resources is essential for future environment. Since very ancient time itself man has been generations. Human-induced land use-cover changes have enthusiastically engaging in gardening for food and produced profound impacts on landscape and the global aesthetic purpose and also for merging his dwelling with biosphere. Now a days a rapid change in the attitudes the natural environment. 121 | P a g e

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