Reading Course Semester-I 2012-2013 Biodiversity Appreciation of
campus flora
Under Dr. Meenal Kowshik and Dr. Mangesh Bedekar
Malavika G 2010A1PS433G Pruthvi Sai 2009B2A1565G Abhilash Govind 2009A3PS113G Sachin M K 2010A3PS188G Akshay Surendra 2010B5A3331G
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
K.K. Birla Goa Campus
Acknowledgement
When we set out to this course, it was quite a challenge to document biodiversity on campus and we decided to do a floral survey. That was quite a challenging task in itself. We thank Dr. Meenal Koushik and Dr. Mangesh Bedekar for not only providing us an opportunity to work on the project but also supporting us along the way.
We owe our thanks to Ayush who was a part of our team initially but couldn‟t register for us.
We would like to thank our campus, BITS-Pilani Goa Campus for providing us a suitable platform to undertake this study. The location of our campus in a verdant evergreen ecosystem has only added to making this study more interesting.
We cannot possibly thank everyone responsible for increasing the biodiversity, preserving it and maintaining it explicitly. However, we express our deepest gratitude our everyone who‟s helping make our campus a greener place.
Thank you all.
- Reading course team - 22-11-2012 - Thursday
Index
CHAPTER I
Introduction
Western Ghats The Western Ghats or the Sahyādri constitute a mountain range along the western side of India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight hottest hotspots of biological diversity in the world. This range runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The range starts near the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra, south of the Tapti river, and runs approximately 1,600 km (990 mi) through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala ending at Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of India. These hills cover 160,000 km2 and form the catchment area for complex riverine drainage systems that drain almost 40% of India. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan Plateau. The average elevation is around 1,200 m The area is one of the world‟s ten "Hottest biodiversity hotspots" and has over 5000 species of flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species and 179 amphibian species; it is likely that many undiscovered species live in the Western Ghats. At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats.
Geology
The Western Ghats are not true mountains, but are the faulted edge of the Deccan Plateau. They are believed to have been formed during the break-up of the super continent of Gondwana some 150 million years ago. Geophysicist Barron and Harrison from the University of Miami advocate the theory that the west coast of India came into being somewhere around 100 to 80 million years ago after it broke away from Madagascar. After the break-up, the western coast of India would have appeared as an abrupt cliff some 1,000 m in elevation. Basalt is the predominant rock found in the hills reaching a depth of 3 km. Other rock types found are charnockites, granite gneiss, khondalites, leptynites, and metamorphic gneisses with detached occurrences of crystalline limestone, iron ore, dolerites and anorthosites. Residual laterite and bauxite ores are also found in the southern hills.
Climate
Climate in the Western Ghats varies with altitudinal gradation and distance from the equator. The climate is humid and tropical in the lower reaches tempered by the proximity to the sea. Elevations of 1,500 m and above in the north and 2,000 m and above in the south have a more temperate climate. Average annual temperatures are around 15 °C. In some parts frost is common, and temperatures touch the freezing point during the winter months. Mean temperature range from 20 °C in the south to 24 °C in the north. It has also been observed that the coldest periods in the south Western Ghats coincide with the wettest. During the monsoon season between June and September, the unbroken Western Ghats chain acts as a barrier to the moisture laden clouds. The heavy, eastward-moving rain-bearing clouds are forced to rise and in the process deposit most of their rain on the windward side. Rainfall in this region averages 3,000–4,000 mm with localised extremes touching 9,000 mm. The eastern region of the Western Ghats which lie in the rain shadow, receive far less rainfall averaging about 1,000 mm bringing the average rainfall figure to 2,500 mm. Data from rainfall figures reveal that there is no relationship between the total amount of rain received and the spread of the area. Some areas to the north in Maharashtra while receiving heavier rainfall are followed by long dry spells, while regions closer to the equator receiving less annual rainfall, have rain spells lasting almost the entire year.
Floral and Anthropogenic History
The Western Ghats first came under human influences during the Palaeolithic or Stone Age some 12,000 years ago. Stone tools used by Palaeolithic people have been excavated in the river valleys of Palakkad, Mallapuram and Dakshina Kannada districts in the Western Ghats.
Table 1: Chronology of human ecological events in the Western Ghats
Years before Era Ecological Events present >12,000 Palaeolithic Hunting and gathering 12,000-5,000 Mesolithic Hunting-gathering, use of fire, forest decline and increase in savanna. 5,000-3,000 Neolithic Agri-pastoralism in the Deccan, vegetation change in the Nilgiris, coastal deforestation, use of iron, Harappan and Deccan immigrants into the Western Ghats. 3,000-1,000 Megalithic Agri-pastoralism, Western Ghats neoliths, shifting cultivation, decline in primary forests, sacred groves, extraction of spices and timber. 1,000-200 Historical European trade, extraction of timber for ship building, increase in spice trade, organised agriculture, shifting cultivation continues 200-100 Increase timber harvest, state forestry begins, shifting cultivation regulated, natural teak depleted, Plantation initiated, 100 - Timber harvest intensified, timber stocks depleted, Conservation by state, mines, dams, townships.
Mesolithic sites have been discovered around the river Mandovi in Goa. Charcoal beds dating back to 5000 years ago in Tenmalai (southern Western Ghats) suggest that humans burnt forests around this time. During the new Stone Age, there were domesticated cattle, sheep and goats in and around the Western Ghats. Shifting cultivation was apparently the form of agriculture that pre-dominated the Western Ghats till recently.
Human influences have had varied impacts on the biodiversity of the Western Ghats. History of species extinctions in the Western Ghats was certainly coincident with the climatic and human histories. Extended arid periods and human interference starting 12,000 years ago led to slow but extensive transformation of habitats in and around the Western Ghats. Unique landscape elements such as the Myristica swamps gave way to cultivation of rice. Trees around these swamps disappeared locally. The use of fire to clear forests for cultivation has had a major influence on the forests of the Western Ghats. The spread of bamboo and deciduous trees in the region would have been aided by this human practice. Widespread occurrence of fire tolerant trees such as Acacia catechu, Careya arborea, Dalbergia latifolia, Dillenia pentagyna, Schleichera oleosa, Tectona grandis, Terminalia spp and Xylia xylocarpa suggests this.
Hill agro-ecosystems in the Western Ghats are today dominated by estates - chiefly of tea, coffee, rubber and monocultures of various tree species, including the oil palm that was introduced lately.
Casuarina plantations first appeared in Uttara Kannada district in the 1800s. Teak followed (first planted in Nilambur) and over the years, eucalypts, cinchona, wattle, rubber, clove etc. have displaced extensive patches of natural forests throughout the Western Ghats. The impact of monocultures on the biodiversity of the Western Ghats has been little understood.
Apart from the introduction of commercially important plants, there have been invasions by a number of aggressive alien plant species. The British Colonists spread over most of the Western Ghats in the late seventeen hundreds and early eighteen hundreds. Important amongst these are Lantana camara, Eupatorium odoratum, Parthenium hysterophorus,etc. Wattle (Acacia spp.) once introduced for the extraction of tannin in the higher hills is today a major threat to the sholas and grasslands at these altitudes. The impact of these exotic plants has been reason for a lot of debate.
In selectively logged evergreen forests, the woody plant species diversity has declined. This has been accompanied by the selective loss of certain plant species of greater economic value and an overall reduction in forest biomass. Other organisms have responded to human disturbance rather differently. Selective logging (consequently lower tree and canopy density) has locally increased the diversity of butterflies, lizards and birds in the Western Ghats. To balance the impacts of human interests with the long-term conservation of biodiversity in the Western Ghats is the greatest future challenge.
Fauna
The Western Ghats are home to thousands of animal species including at least 325 locally threatened species. There are at least 139 mammal species. A flagship species includes the nocturnal Malabar large-spotted civet and the arboreal (and endangered) Lion-tailed macaque. These hill ranges serve as important wildlife corridors, allowing seasonal migration of endangered Asian elephants. The Nilgiri Bio-sphere is home to the largest population of Asian Elephants and forms an important Project Elephant and Project Tiger reserve. The largest population of India's tigers outside the Sundarbans is in the unbroken forests bordering Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The amphibians of the Western Ghats are diverse and unique, with more than 80% of the 179 amphibian species being endemic to the region. Most of the endemic species have their distribution in the rainforests of these mountains. The endangered Purple frog was discovered in 2003 and this species of frog is most closely related to species found in the Seychelles. 102 species of fish are listed for the Western Ghats water bodies. Western Ghats streams are home to several brilliantly coloured ornamental fishes like Red line torpedo barbs and the Günther's catfish, freshwater fish like the puffer fish Tetraodon travancoricus and marine forms like Chelonodon patoca. Mahseers are a historically popular species with its cousins found only in the Himalayas. There are at least 508 bird species in the region. Some endemic birds of the western Ghats include the endangered Rufous-breasted Laughingthrush, the vulnerable Nilgiri Wood-pigeon, White- bellied Shortwing and Broad-tailed Grassbird, the threatened Nilgiri Pipit and the species of lesser concern like the Malabar Parakeet, White-bellied Treepie, Wynaad Laughingthrush, White-bellied Blue-flycatchers and the Crimson-backed Sunbird.
Flora
Of India's 25000 plant species, about 4000 species are reported from the Western Ghats, of this 1600 are endemics. The levels of endemism in this area are high – nearly 2000 species of higher plants. Three major gradients in the distribution of this diversity, especially for flowering plants, have been recognized. The first and major one occurs along the north-south direction, species diversity increases as one travels from north to south direction along the Ghats. Southward increase of number of rainy days can be related to this phenomenon. The decrease in rainfall, relates to the decrease in diversity from west to east. The third known gradient is an increase in number of plant species found with the increase in temperature, as one goes from higher elevation hills to lower coastal plains.
The various major vegetation types are tropical evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests, scrub jungles, sholas, and savannas including high rainfall savannas, peat bogs and Myristica swamps.
Medicinal Plants
The Western Ghats is very rich in its medicinal wealth. The forests and hills of this region is a treasure house of about 700 medicinal plants. Out of which some are used for traditional and folk medicinal practices. Many are exploited commercially for their active enzymes and their commercial value.
Medicinal plant species of Western Ghats represent a variety of life form ranging from lichen, algae, herbs, shrubs, climber and trees, which are annuals to perennials. Moreover these species are distributed from canopy to understorey and are characterized seasonally. The auto-ecology and syn- ecology of medicinal plant species is complex and their proper understanding requires a sound knowledge of the ecology, taxonomy and ethno-botany for these species.
The limited knowledge on the varied use of the medicinal plants, their availability and extent of distribution weakens the ways to utilize these resources efficiently.
About 50 species in the Western Ghats hold a very high value in the folk and herbal health forms for the treatment of different forms of ailments. The most common plants like the Mimosa pudica, Hibiscus angulosus, Leucas aspera, Phyllanthus neruri, Calotropis gigantea, Tridax procumbens, Parthenium hysterophorus (which is considered to be a noxoious weed) are all found to have cure for many major ailments like jaundice, asthma, piles, bronchial and blood disorders.
Plants like Anona squamosa, Buchanania lanzan, Semecarpus anacardium, Dioscorea bulbifera and Aphanamixis polystachya are recommended for various forms of tumor. Plant parts of Pepper (fruit) and Cinnamom (bark) when mixed together make up a very strong formula for curing Migraine. Most of the medicinal plants are found to occupy forest types like deciduous forests, evergreen forests and they are found in fallow lands and wayside. Appropriate conservation strategies have to be implemented immediately to protect the fragile habitats of many such medicinal plants.
Timbers: Out of the 4000 species of flowering plants recorded from the Western Ghats 20% of them are arborescent species. Out of which 351 are endemic to the Western Ghats.
Bamboos: Bamboos are a tribe of flowering perennial evergreen plants in the grass family. About 24 species belonging to 8 genera of the bamboos are recorded from the Western Ghats.
Rattans: Rattan (from the Malay rotan) is the name for the roughly 600 species of palms in the tribe Calameae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia. About 25 species of Calamus are recorded from the Western Ghats against a total number of 4 genera and 51 species of the family Arecaceae. Except C.thwaitesii and C.rotang that occur in Sri Lanka, all other Calamus species are endemic.
Pteridophytes: They are vascular plants that produce neither flowers nor seeds. They are used for medicinal purposes, as soil -binders, and are frequently planted as ornamentals. Ferns of the Western Ghats are represented by 349 species.
Bryophytes: Bryophyte is a traditional name used to refer to all embryophytes (land plants) that do not have true vascular tissue. Of these, 682 species in India, 190 of them are endemic to the Western Ghats. 280 liverworts species are found in the region with 121 of them endemic.
Orchids: The Orchidaceae are a diverse and widespread family of flowering plants with colorful and fragrant blooms, commonly known as the orchid family. Western Ghats harbours 283 species of which 85 species are confined to the Western Ghats.
Wild Edible Plants: The hill tribes or Adivasis (original inhabitants) as they are called, account for about 5% of the area population in the Western Ghats. About 166 species of wild edible plants are reported from Western Ghats including Pteridophytes and Angiosperms.
Introduction to campus and its history
Goa
Goa is situated along the Central west coast of India lying in between latitudes 150 48′ 00″ and 140 43′ 54″ and longitudes 740 20′ 13″ to 730 40′ 33″E .The altitude ranges from sea level to more than 600m above sea level in the Western Ghats. The State comprises 11 talukas in 2 districts of North Goa (1736 sq. km.) and South Goa (1966 sq km). North to South, the length of Goa State is 105 km from North to South and 60 km from east to west. The geographical area of Goa State is 3702 sq. km.
The principal geological feature of the land is the extensive laterization which occurs because of Goa‟s tropical moist climate, subject to vast seasonal changes. The laterite caps are extensive over most of the terrain, mountains, plateaus or plains and they have by and large determined the nature of the region‟s vegetative cover.
The region is drained by nine independent rivers flowing generally from East (Western Ghats) to West (the Arabian Sea. Due to the extent of their drainage areas and the human attraction they hold, these main nine rivers and their 42 tributaries play a significant role in the lives of the people of the State. Between themselves, the Mandovi and Zuari together drain 2553 sq km, about 70% of the total geographical area of Goa.
BITS-Pilani Goa Campus, Zuarinagar The climate is maritime and with a Western Ghats biotope. The monsoon begins in late May and extends until early October. Scattered rainfall persists through October coupled with severe sunshine. From November to late January, there is dull sunshine with a mild winter. From February to May, there is heavy sunshine which continually becomes hotter through the period. However, due to the location of our campus on a cliff, there is significant breeze from the South-West (which builds up into the monsoon). The soil is primarily laterite rock and hence very high porosity. The area becomes very dry during summer – a characteristic of the Central Western Ghats. This characteristic makes the landscape very sensitive ecological perturbations.
River Zuari is located around 700m (as the crowflies) from campus and therefore is subject to martime influences. Vegetation along the river has been highly modified but habitation but similar estuarine habitats on the Mandovi (further north) suggest mangrove forests for a sizeable distance and a gradient of Western Ghats vegetation steadily increasing towards the mainland.
BITS-Pilani Goa campus (15.38997 N, 73.87733 E) is located on community land – land meant for natural resource extraction by the community. The campus landscape has been highly modified by construction and landscaping activity. The native vegetation is all but gone and native fauna has been destructively kept in check. It is flanked by native forest patches from its Northern perimeter around the Eastern side until the South-east. The rest is either flanked by roads or a modified urban landscape. Purpose of project
This reading course is titled “Appreciation of Floral Biodiversity at BITS-Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus” and has been offered in the 1st semester for the academic year 2012-13. Ever since its inception in May 2006, there has been no formal study of the campus biodiversity. Also, the location of the campus – in a biodiversity hotspot, makes it imperative to study the green cover. While fauna also contribute to overall biodiversity, we‟ve decided to shelve the same for a later stage, recognizing that floral estimation poses a larger challenge and that faunal diversity is a consequence of floral diversities.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has in 2010 recommended the necessity of the world community to preserve urban biodiversity –
“Although cities occupy just 2 percent of the Earth's surface, their inhabitants use 75% of the planet's natural resources. Healthy ecosystems and biological diversity are vital for cities to function properly. Ecosystems provide three main kinds of services to the city: provisioning of food, fibre and fuels; regulating through purification, detoxification and mitigation of droughts and floods; and enriching the spiritual, aesthetic and social life of urban dwellers.”(b)
We have considered BITS-Pilani Goa campus to be an urban landscape with a highly modified ecosystem and have also recognized the location to be in one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world(c).
The project aims to document, study, analyse and infer from the floral biodiversity within the confines of the 188 acre landscape whilst consulting the Western Ghats ecosystem as a reference for optimal biodiversity. We also wish to draft recommendations at the end of the report to enhance the campus biodiversity holistically, with the above recommendations drawn from the campus study conducted through the semester.
The campus plan included an overhauling of the ecosystem with significant landscaping and modification of soil dynamics. Predatory and Insect populations were controlled and floral distributions controlled. While a few patches of original landscape remained, most was modified. Therefore, the campus landscape can largely be described as urban.
While it is relatively easier to define tangible benefits for urban biodiversity for cities, it is a little harder for campuses. The following is some reasoning –
Campus can be considered to be a micro-city, with a population of resident persons numbering ~4000. In that sense, all the doctrines of the UNEP (2010) recommendation hold true – especially the regulation of the landscape via detoxification, purification and mitigation of the forces of nature, and the enhancing of aesthetic and social life of campus folk.
BITS-Pilani as a University is a scientific institution, and in the spirit of science guarantees preservation and promotion of biodiversity. A more Utopian idea would be creating a window for the Biological Sciences capabilities on campus to utilize in-situ floral bio-diversities to engage in high-quality research.
Keeping in sync with the ethics, values and the principles of this University, it is primordial to preserve and enhance biodiversity for the general sensitization of the students/residents and for intellectual benefit.
Aesthetic reasons warrant a need to shady avenue trees, flowering plants, and plants of medicinal and endemic value.
The BITS-Pilani Goa Campus has been voted to be one of the greenest campuses in the world. The reason for this is largely due to the inherent location of the campus (Western Ghats) and not due to any specific effort by the authorities to enhance the diversity. It will be a pity indeed if we do not take some measures to secure this tag.
On a more short-term scale, the reasons for this project can be thus stated –
1. The nature of the soil and climate do not allow for fast growth of most tree species except the most hardy. However, hardy trees do not usually grow fast. The aim is to identify the specific species that will grow in the region to sizeable height/girth (and provide the benefits listed above).
2. Campus is overrun with invasives and non-native species – something unviable for the ecosystem. The need is to provide native, endemic alternatives that will assure a healthy and sustainable ecosystem.
3. The necessity of avifauna, reptilians and insects cannot be overemphasized – they provide a means to keep insect and rodent population in control. Currently, there are hardly any green lungs that allow for sustainable breeding of birds or reptilians. Native vegetation will not only provide food and shelter for these species but allow for an urban landscape where the numbers of predator-prey balance out without anthropogenic intervention.
(b) – UNEP, UN-HABITAT brochure; (Sept. 2005); http://www.unep.org/urban_environment/PDFs/Ecosystems_and_Biodiversity_Role_of_Cities.pdf (c) - Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities, Nature (1999), Norman Myers et. al. UK, USA
Methodology:
The entire project was divided in to 4 phases as shown below:
Phase 0- Literature Survey
The first phase of the project was collection and analysis of data available on the biodiversity, climatic features, relief features and other related information on Western ghats, from various sources. This was followed by a general study on the location, climate, topography and geographical history of BITS Pilani K.K.Birla Goa campus. In addition, the WGEEP report (Madhav Gadgil et.al, 2012) was thoroughly studied.
Phase 0 work was mainly carried out before the beginning of the semester, in June- July.
Phase 1- Cataloguing
The second phase comprised of photographing, identification and cataloguing of plants on campus. For ease of execution the total area of the campus (188 acres) was divided in to 5 sectors. The sectors were divided, taking in to account, the human interaction factor.
Region Denotation Area(acres) Area(m2) % cover Residence 0 38.78 156937.1 21.6 Hostel 0 33.83 136905.1 18.8 Around SAC 0 37.95 153578.2 21.1 Academic building 0 47.03 190323.7 26.1 Around VGH 0 22.27 90123.5 12.4 Total 180 728434.1 100
This was the longest phase. The work started in the second week of August 2012, and continued till the beginning of October.
Around 250-300 photographs were taken, and with the help of these plants on campus were identified. Websites like flowersofindia.net , biotik.org were mainly used for identification purpose. In addition, help was taken from the botany experts in the Facebook forum, India Flora. The catalogue was made as an Excel database, in the following format:
Phase 2: Survey
This phase consists of the quantitative estimation of flora on Campus. Due to the technical difficulties and the futility in applying existing surveying techniques like the Quadrat and Transect methods to the highly modified landscape on Campus, this phase was limited to counting trees on Campus.
The survey method used was direct counting. The following criteria were used to identify a tree :
1. Woody stem
2. Height above 3 feet
Phase 2 extended throughout the month of October.
This phase was completed with the help of Environmental Protection and Awareness Club of BITS Pilani K.K.Birla Goa Campus.
Phase 3: Recommendations
From a detailed study and analysis of the data collected in the previous 3 phases, we were able to come up with certain recommendations, which would help improve the biodiversity of the campus. The recommendations were made, keeping in mind, the geography, climate and location of the campus. The prime focus however, was on promoting the endemic and native flora over exotics and invasives.
This phase was carried out, in the first 3 weeks of November 2012.
CHAPTER II
Appreciation of Biodiversity of BITS-Pilani Goa Campus
The campus vegetation was mapped and photographs of all species were taken. 95% of the photographed species was identified and tabulated –
Scientific Common Name Family name Invasi Non- Category Medicin Name ve Nativ al e 1 Abelmoschu Ladies Finger, Malvaceae N N shrub y s esculentus Okra 2 Acacia Earleaf acacia Fabaceae N Y Tree y auriculiformis 3 Acacia Mangium Fabaceae N y Tree n mangium 4 Acacia Black Wattle Mimosaceae Y y Tree n mearnsii 5 Acacia Babool Mimosaceae Y Y Tree y nilotica subsp. indica 6 Acalypha Dwarf Cat tail Euphorbiacea N Y Herb chamaedrifoli e a 7 Acalypha Cat's tail/red hot Euphorbeacea N Y shrub n hispida cat's tail e 8 Acalypha Fijian fire plant / Euphorbeacea N Y Shrub y wilkesiana Copperleaf e 9 Acampe acampe orchid Orchidaceae N N orchid praemorsa 10 Ageratum Goat weed Asteraceae Y N Herb y conyzoides 11 Albizia Rain tree Fabaceae N Y Tree n saman 12 Allamanda Golden trumpet Apocynaceae N Y Climber y cathartica vine 13 Alloteropsis Summer grass Poaceae N N herb cimicina 14 Aloe vera Medicinal Aloe Asphodelacea N Y herb y e 15 Alstonia Indian Devil tree Apocynaceae N N Tree y scholaris 16 Alternanther Smooth Chaff Amaranthacea Y Y Herb a Flower e paronychioid es 17 Alternanther Alligator weed Amaranthacea Y Y Herb n a e philoxeroides 18 Alternanther Khaki Weed Amaranthacea Y Y Herb n a pungens e 19 Alternanther Tangle mat Amaranthacea Y N Herb y a sessilis e 20 Alternanther Sanguinarea Amaranthacea Y Y Herb a tenella e 21 Alysicarpus Long Leaved Fabaceae N N herb longifolius Alyce 22 Amaranthus Red amarnath Amaranthacea N Y herb cruentus e Oeschberg 23 Amaranthus Prickly amaranth Amaranthacea N N Herb n spinosus e 24 Amischopha Creeping Cradle Commelinace Y Y Herb y celus axillaris Plant ae 25 Amorphophal elephant foot yam Araceae N Y herb n lus paeoniifolius 26 Anacardium Cashew Anacardiacea N N Tree y occidentale e 27 Anthurium Flamingo Flower Araceae N Y herb n andraeanum 28 Arauacaria Coral reef Araucariaceae N Y Tree n columnaris araucaria 29 Artocarpus Jack fruit Moraceae N N Tree n heterophyllus 30 Artocarpus Monkey jack Moraceae N N Tree Y lakoocha 31 Asparagus Foxtail Asparagaceae N Y Climber n densiflorus asparagus/aspara gus fern 32 Asparagus Shatavari Asparagaceae N N Climber y racemosus 33 Asystasia Violet asystasia Acanthaceae N Y Shrub dalzelliana 34 Averrhoa Bilimbi Acanthaceae N N Tree y bilimbi 35 Azadirachta Neem Meliaceae N N Tree y indica 36 Bambusa buddha belly Poaceae N N herb y tuldoides bamboo Munro 37 Bambusa Golden Bamboo Poaceae Y N Grass y vulgaris 38 Basella alba malabar spinach Basellaceae N N herb n 39 Bauhinia White Orchid-tree Fabaceae Y N Shrub y Acuminata 40 Bauhinia Orchid tree Caesalpiniace N N Tree y purpurea ae 41 Biophytum Mukkutti Oxalidaceae N Y Herb Y Sensitivum 42 Blainvillea Para cress flower Asteraceae Y N Herb n acmella 43 Boerhavia Tar Vine Nyctaginacea Y N Herb y diffusa e 44 Bombax Silk Cotton Tree Malvaceae N Y Tree n ceiba 45 Bougainvillea Bougainvillea Nyctaginacea N Y Climber n glabra e 46 Bryum - Bryaceae N N bryophyta coronatum 47 Caesalpinia Peacock flower Fabaceae N Y Shrub Y pulcherrima 48 Calliandra red powderpuff Mimosaceae N Y shrub N haematocep hala 49 Callistemon Bottle brush Myrtaceae N Y Tree N viminalis 50 Calotropis Crown flower Apocynaceae Y N Shrub N gigantea 51 Calotropis Apple of Sodom Asclepiadacea Y N Shrub Y Procera e 52 Calycopteris Ukshi Combratacea N N Climber Y floribunda e 53 Canna indica Canna Cannaceae Y Y Grass n 54 Capsicum Red Pepper Solanaceae Y Y Shrub Y Annum 55 Capsicum Chilli Solanaceae N N shrub Y frutescens 56 Carex trifida Mutton Bird Cyperaceae Y Y Grass Sedge 57 Careya wild guava/ Lecythidaceae N N Tree Y arborea Ceylon Oak 58 Carica Papaya Caricaceae N N Tree Y papaya 59 Caryota Fish tail Arecaceae N N Tree Y urens palm/toddy palm 60 Cassia fistula Golden shower Caesalpiniace N N Tree y ae 61 Cassia Caesalpiniace Y Y Herb Y pumila ae 62 Cassia Red cassia, Caesalpiniace N Y tree Y roxburghii Ceylon Cassia ae 63 Cassia tora Sickle Wild Fabaceae Y Y Herb Y Sensitive-plant. 64 Casuarina Whistling Pine Casuaraceae N N Tree N equisetifolia 65 Catharanthu Vinca Apocynaceae Y N Shrub Y s roseus 66 Catunarega False Guava Rubiaceae N N Shrub m spinarum 67 Celosia Silver spiked Amaranthacea N N Herb N argentea cockscomb e 68 Centranthera Undir kani Scrophulariac N N herb Y indica eae 69 Chamaesyce Asthma Plant Euphorbiacea Y N Herb Y Hirta e 70 Chromoalen Siam weed Asteraceae Y Y Herb Y a odorata 71 Cissus Vitaceae Y Y Shrub Y vitiginea 72 Citrus Lime Rutaceae Y N Shrubby Y Aurantifolia tree 73 Cleome Spindle pod Cleomaceae Y N Herb N monophylla 74 Cleome Fringed spider Cleomaceae Y Y Herb N rutidosperma flower 75 Cleome Asian Cleomaceae Y Y Herb N viscosa spiderflower 76 Clitoria Butterfly bean Fabaceae N N Herb Y ternata 77 Cocos coconut Arecaceae N N tree Y nucifera 78 Codiaeum croton Euphorbiacea N Y shrub N variegatum e 'goldsun' 79 Codiaeum croton Euphorbiacea N Y shrub N variegatum e var. pictum 80 Coleonema Golden diosma N Y Tree N pulchrum aurea 81 colocasia Green taro Araceae N N herb N esculenta 82 Commelina Garden Pontederiacea Y N Herb Y benghalensis commelina e 83 Corchorus East Indian Tiliaceae N N herb N aestuans Mallow 84 Cordia Scarlet cordia Boraginaceae N Y Tree N sebestena 85 Cosmos Cosmos Orange Asteraceae Y Y Herb N sulphureus 86 Couroupita Cannonball tree Lecythidaceae N N Tree Y guianensis 87 Crinum Poison Bulb Amaryllidacea N N Shrub Y Asiaticum e 88 Crossandra Crossandra Acanthaceae N N Shrub N infundibulifor mis 89 Cucumis madras pea Cucurbitaceae N Y climber maderaspata pumpkin nus 90 Cuphea False Heather Lythraceae N Y Shrub N hyssopifolia 91 Cuphea Cigar plant Lythraceae Y Y Shrub N ignea 92 Curcuma Wild turmeric Zingiberaceae N N Herb Y aromatica 93 Curcuma turmeric Zingiberaceae N N herb Y longa 94 Cycas Sago Palm Cycadaceae N Y Gymnospe N revoluta rm 95 Cymbopogon Lemon grass Poaceae N Y Grass Y citratus 96 Cyperus iria Rice flatsedge Cyperaceae Y N Grass N 97 Cyrtostachys Sealing Wax Arecaceae N Y Tree N renda Palm 98 Dalbergia Shisham Fabaceae N N Tree N sissoo 99 Delonix regia Gulmohar Fabaceae N N Tree N 100 Dendrocalam Calcutta bamboo Poaceae N N Grass N us strictus 101 Desmodium sal leaved Fabaceae N N herb Y gangeticum desmodium 102 Desmodium Loose Flowered Fabaceae N N herb Y laxiflorum Desmodium 103 Dianella Vareigated flax Liliaceae N Y herb N tasmanica lily 'Variegata 104 Dieffenbachi Dumb plant Araceae N Y herb N a amoena 105 Dillenia Elephant apple Dilleniaceae N N tree N indica 106 Duranta Variegated Sky Verbenaceae N N shrub Y erecta Flower 'Vareigata' 107 Dypsis Golden Cane Arecaceae N N Tree N lutescens Palm 108 Echinocloea Cockspur Poaeceae Y N Grass N crus galli 109 Eclipta False Daisy Asteraceae Y N Herb Y prostrata 110 Emilia Lilac tasselflower Asteraceae Y N Herb N sonchifolia 111 Epipremnum money plant Araceae N N shrub N aureum 112 Eriocaulon Buttonhead Eriocaulaceae N N shrub N heterolepis pipewort 113 Erythrina Indian Coral Tree Fabaceae N N Tree Y indica 114 Erythrina Indian Coral Tree Fabaceae N N Tree stricta var. suberosa 115 Euphorbia Wild Poinsettia Euphorbiacea N Y Herb Y heterophylla e 116 Euphorbia Common spurge Euphorbiacea Y N Herb Y hirta e 117 Evolvulus Roundleaf Convolvulace Y N Herb N nummularius bindweed ae 118 Ficus Strangler fig Moraceae N N tree N amplissma 119 Ficus Indian Rock Fig Moraceae Y N Tree N arnottiana 120 Ficus Banyan Moraceae N N tree Y benghalensis 121 Ficus Benjamin's fig Moraceae Y Y Tree N benjamina 122 Ficus callosa - Moraceae N N tree 123 Ficus Sandpaper fig Moraceae N N Tree Y exasperata 124 Ficus pumila Climbing fig Moraceae N Y Climber Y minima 125 Ficus cluster fig Moraceae N N Tree Y racemosa 126 Ficus Peepal Moraceae N N Tree Y religiosa 127 Ficus Drooping fig Moraceae N Y Tree Y semicordata 128 Flueggea Bush Weed Phyllanthacea N N Shrub N leucopyrus e 129 Galinsoga Potato weed Asteraceae Y N Herb N parviflora 130 Gliricidia Mexican lilac Fabaceae N Y tree Y sepium 131 Gossypium cotton Malvaceae N N shrub N arboreum 132 Grevillia Silver Oak Proteaceae N Y Tree N robusta 133 Grewia spp. Unknown2 Tiliaceae N N shrub/tree 134 Haldina Haldi Rubiaceae N N Tree Y cordifolia 135 Hamelia Hummingbird Rubiaceae N Y Shrub Y patens bush/fire bush 136 Helicteres East-Indian screw Sterculiaceae N N tree Y isora tree 137 Hibiscus Yellow hibiscus Malvaceae N Y Tree Y brackenridge i 138 Hibiscus China Rose Malvaceae N Y Tree Y rosa sinensis 139 Holarrhena Indrajao Apocynaceae N N Tree Y pubescens 140 Holoptelea indian Elm Ulmaceae N N tree Y integrifolia 141 Holostemma Holostemma Asclepiadacea N N Climber N ada-kodien Creeper e 142 Hymenocallis Spider Lily Amaryllidacea N Y Herb N littoralis e 143 Hypoestes Polka Dot plant Acanthaceae N Y Herb N sanguinolent a 144 Hyptis Chan plant Lamiaceae Y Y Herb Y suaveolens 145 Impatiens Garden Balsam Balsaminacea Y Y Herb Y balsamina e 146 Impatiens Rosemary Balsaminacea Y N Herb N oppositifolia- Leaved Balsam e minor 147 Indigofera Three leaf Indigo Fabaceae N N Herb Y glandulosa 148 Ipomoea cypress vine Convolvulace Y Y vine N quamoclit ae 149 Ipomoea Little bell Convolvulace N Y Climber N triloba ae 150 Ixora ixora red Rubiaceae N N shrub N coccinea 151 Jasminum Rose bud jasmine Oleaceae N Y Plant N dichotomum 152 Jasminum river jasmine Oleaceae N Y creeper N fluminense 153 Jasminum pink/chinese Oleaceae N Y creeper N polyanthum jasmine 154 Jasminum Arabian Jasmine Oleaceae N N Shrub N sambac var. 'Belle of India' 'Belle of India 155 Jasminum Bela Oleaceae N N Shrub N sambac var. 'Maid of Orleans' 156 Kigelia Sausage tree Bignoniaceae N Y Tree Y africana 157 Kyllinga White Water Cyperaceae N N herb N nemoralis Sedge 158 Lagerstroemi Pride of India Lythraceae N N tree Y a speciosa 159 Lannea Indian Ash tree Anacardiacea N N tree Y coromandelic (unknown 1) e a 160 Lantana Lantana Verbenaceae Y Y Shrub N camara 161 Lantana White Lantana Verbenaceae Y Y Shrub N involucrata 162 Lantana Trailing Lantana Verbenaceae Y Y Shrub N montevidensi s 163 Laportea Hen's Nettle Urticaceae Y N Herb N interrupta 164 Lawsonia Henna Lythraceae N N shrub Y inermis 165 Leucaena Wild Tamarind Fabaceae Y Y Tree N leucocephala 166 Leucas Common Leucas Lamiaceae N N herb Y aspera 167 Licuala Mangrove Fan Arecaceae N N Shrub N spinosa palm 168 Lycopersicon Tomato Solanaceae N N shrub Y esculentum 169 Macaranga Macaranga Euphorbiacea N N Tree N indica e 170 Magnolia Golden champa Magnoliaceae N Tree N champaca 171 Malpighia Barbados Cherry Malpighiaceae N Y Shrub Y glabra 172 Mangifera Mango Anacardiacea N N Tree Y indica e 173 Manilkara Sapota Sapotaceae N N Tree N zapota 174 Megaskepas Brazilian Red Acanthaceae N Y Shrub ma Cloak erythrochlam ys 175 Melaleuca Golden bottle Myrtaceae Y Y tree Y bracteata brush 176 Melia Persian lilac Meliaceae N N tree azederach 177 Microcos Shiral, Microcos Tiliaceae N N tree Y paniculata 178 Mimosa Touch-Me-Not Fabaceae Y N Herb pudica 179 Mimusops spanish cherry Sapotaceae N N tree Y elengi 180 Mirabilis 4 o' clock flower Nyctaginacea N Y Plant Y jalapa e 181 Momordica Bitter Guord Cucurbitaceae N N creeper Y charantia 182 Monstera Windowleaf Araceae N Y Climber Y deliciosa 183 Moringa Drumstick tree Moringaceae N N Tree Y oleifera 184 Murraya Curry leaf tree Rutaceae N N Tree Y koenigii 185 Musa Banana Musaceae N N Tree N paradisiaca 186 Mussaenda red flag bush Rubiaceae N N shrub N erythrophylla 187 Mussaenda Dhobi Tree Rubiaceae N N Shrub N glabrata 188 Neolamarcki Kadam Rubiaceae N N Tree Y a cadamba 189 Nerium Oleander Apocynaceae N N Shrub Y oleander 190 Neuracanthu Pin Cushion Plant Acanthaceae N N Herb N s sphaerostac hyus 191 Ocimum Tulsi Lamiaceae N N Shrub Y tenuiflorum 192 Oxalis Procumbent Oxalidaceae Y N Herb Y Corniculata Yellow-sorrel 193 Oxalis N Y dehradunens is 194 Pandanus Pandanus Pandanaceae N N grass N pygmaeus 195 Passiflora Stinking passion Passifloracea Y Y Climber Y foetida flower e 196 Peltophorum Yellow Poinciana Caesalpiniace N Y Tree N pterocarpum ae 197 Pennisetum Buffel Grass Poaeceae Y N Grass N ciliare 198 Pennisetum Purple Fountain Poaeceae Y N Grass N setaceum Grass ‘Rubrum’ 199 Peperomia Malay gooseberry Piperaceae N Y Herb Y pellucida 200 Phyllanthus Phyllanthacea N N Tree N acidus e 201 Phyllanthus Carry Me Seed Phyllanthacea N Y Herb N niruri e 202 Phyllanthus Mousetail plant Phyllanthacea N Y Shrub N myrtifolius e 203 Phyllocephal Purple heads Asteraceae N N Herb Y um scabridum 204 Physalis cutleaf ground Solanaceae Y herb N angulata cherry, dog tomato 205 Pilea Gunpowder Plant Urticaceae N Y Herb N microphylla 206 Piper betle Betel Piperaceae N N herb/vine Y 207 Platycladus morpankhi Cupressaceae N Y tree N orientalis 208 Plectranthus Cuban oregano Lamiaceae N N herb Y amboinicus 209 Plumbago Cape Leadwort Plumbaginace N N Shrub N auriculata ae 210 Plumeria Frangapani Apocynaceae N Y Tree N rubra acutifolia 211 Poa annua annual blue grass Poaceae N Y herb N 212 Polyalthia False Ashok, Annonaceae N N Tree N longifolia Mast Tree 213 Polygonum Small Knotweed Polygonaceae N N Herb Y plebeium 214 Pongamia Pongam Tree, fabaceae N N tree Y pinnata Indian Beech Tree 215 Portulaca Kiss-Me-Quick Portulaceae N N Creeper Y pilosa 216 Psidium Apple Guava Myrtaceae N N Tree N guajava 217 Pteris cretica Cretan Brake Pteridaceae Y N Pteridophy N te 218 Pteris Tender Brake Pteridaceae N N Pteridophy N tremula te 219 Pteris vittata Chinese /ladder Pteridaceae Y N Pteridophy N brake te 220 Punica Pomegranate Lythraceae N N Tree Y granatum 221 Raphanus radish Brassicaceae N N herb N sativus 222 Rhamphicarp tutari Orobanchace N N herb a fistulosa ae 223 Rosa Rose Happy Rosaceae N Y Shrub Y kordesii Wanderer 224 Rosa x. Damascus rose Rosaceae N Y Shrub Y damascena 225 Roystonea Royal Palm Arecaceae N Y Tree Y regia 226 Ruellia Wayside tuberose Acanthaceae N Y Herb Y tuberosa 227 Rungia Comb Rungia Acanthaceae N Y Herb pectinata 228 Russelia Firecracker plant Plantaginacea N Y Shrub N equisetiformi e s 229 Sansevieria snake weed Ruscaceae N Y herb N trifasciata 230 Schefflera Octopus Tree Araliaceae N Y Tree N actinophylla 231 Senna Tanner's cassia Fabaceae N Y Shrub Y auriculata 232 Senna Buttercup Bush Fabaceae N Y Tree N multiglandulo sa 233 Senna Desert Cassia Fabaceae N Y Tree N polyphylla 234 Senna tora Sickle Wild Fabaceae Y Y Herb Y Sensitive-plant. 235 Sesamum Sesame Pedaliaceae N N Herb Y indicum 236 Sida acuta Common Sida Portulacaceae N N Shrub N 237 Sida spinosa prickly fan-petals Malvaceae N Y herb N 238 Smithia paired-flower Fabaceae N N herb N conferta Smithia 239 Solanum brinjal Solanaceae N N herb Y melongena 240 Spathodea African Tulip Tree Bignoniaceae Y Y Tree N campanulata 241 Sphagneticol Bay Biscayne Asteraceae Y Y Shrub Y a trilobata Creeping-oxeye 242 Sterculia gulu Malvaceae N N Tree Y urens 243 Strelitzia Bird-of-paradise, Strelitziaceae N Y Shrub N reginae crane flower 244 Synedrella Cinderella Weed Asteraceae N Y Herb N nodiflora 245 Syzygium Jambul Myrtaceae Y N Tree N cumini 246 Tabernaemo Tagar Apocynaceae N N Shrub Y ntana coronaria 247 Tabernaemo Crape Jasmine Apocynaceae N N Tree ntana coronaria var. vareigata 248 Tabernaemo Pinwheel flower Apocynaceae N N Shrub Y ntana divaricata 249 Tagetes Marigold Asteraceae Y N Shrub Y erecta 250 Tecoma Cape Bignoniaceae N Y Shrub N capensis honeysuckle 251 Tecoma Yellow Bignoniaceae N Y Tree N stans trumpetbush 252 tectona Teak Verbenaceae N N tree N grandis 253 Terminalia Arjun Combretacea N N tree Y arjuna e 254 Terminalia Indian Almond Combretacea Y N Tree Y catappa e 255 Terminalia Australian almond Combretacea N Y tree Y muelleri e 256 Thevetia Mexican Apocynaceae N Y Shrub Y peruviana Oleander 257 Thunbergia Bush Clockvine Acanthaceae N N Climber N erecta 258 tradescantia Moses in the Commelinace N N Grass N spathacea cradle, boat lily ae 259 Tradescentia Wandering jew Commelinace N Y Grass N pallida ae 260 Trema Indian Charcoal Cannabaceae N N Tree Y orientalis Tree 261 Tridax Ek Dandi Asteraceae Y N Herb Y procumbens 262 Urena burr mallow Malvaceae N N shrub Y sinuata 263 Vernonia Indian Vernnonia Asteraceae Y N Herb Y Cinerea 264 vigna radiata wild moong Fabaceae N N herb/vine N var. sublobata 265 Vigna Zombi Pea Fabaceae N N Herb N vexillata var. angustifolia 266 Xenostegia Arrow-leaf Convolvulace Y N Creeper N tridentata Morning Glory ae 267 Yucca Spanish Agavaeceae N Y shrub N aloifolia daggeg/bayonet 268 Zephyranthe Rain Lily white Amaryllidacea N Y Herb N s candida e 269 Zingiber ginger Zingiberaceae N N herb Y officinale 270 Ziziphus Indian jujube Rhamnaceae N N tree Y mauritiana
Invasives of BITS Goa
A total of 58 invasive plants were identified from the Campus. The complete list is as follows. The presence of the invasive species in each sector was studied and the data tabulated.
Family Genus Species Habit S H R C V Amaranthaceae Alternanthera tenella Herb 0 1 0 0 0 paronychioides Herb 1 1 1 1 1 philoxeroides Herb 0 0 0 1 0 pungens Herb 1 0 1 0 0 sessilis Herb 0 1 0 0 0 Apocynaceae Calotropis gigantea Shrub 1 1 1 1 1 Catharanthus roseus Shrub 1 1 1 0 0 Asteraceae Tagetes erecta Shrub 0 1 1 0 0 Ageratum conyzoides Herb 1 1 1 1 1 Blainvillea acmella Herb 1 1 0 0 1 Chromoalena odorata Herb 1 1 1 1 1 Eclipta prostrata Herb 1 1 1 0 1 Emilia sonchifolia Herb 0 0 0 0 1 Galinsoga parviflora Herb 0 1 1 0 0 Cosmos sulphureus Herb 0 1 0 0 1 Vernonia indica Herb 1 1 1 1 1 Tridax procumberis Herb 1 1 1 0 1 Balsaminaceae Impatiens balsamina Herb 0 1 1 0 1 oppositifolia- minor Herb 1 0 1 0 1 Bignoniaceae Spathodea campanulata Tree 1 1 1 1 1 Caesalpiniaceae Cassia pumila Herb 1 1 0 1 1 Cannaceae Canna indica Grass 0 1 1 0 0 Cleomaceae Cleome monophylla Herb 0 1 0 0 0 rutidosperma Herb 1 1 1 0 1 viscosa Herb 1 0 0 0 0 Combretaceae Terminalia catappa Tree 1 1 1 1 1 Commelinaceae Amischophacelus axillaris Herb 0 0 1 0 0 Convolvulaceae Evolvulus nummularius Herb 0 1 1 1 0 Xenostegia tridentata Creeper 0 0 0 0 1 Ipomoea quamoclit vine 0 0 1 0 0 Cyperaceae Cyperus iria Grass 1 1 1 1 1 Carex trifida Grass 0 0 1 0 0 Euphorbiaceae Chamaesyce hirta Herb 1 1 1 0 1 Fabaceae Mimosa pudica Herb 1 0 1 0 1 Senna tora Herb 1 0 1 0 0 Leucaena leucocephala Tree 0 0 1 1 1 Lamiaceae Hyptis suaveolens Herb 1 1 1 1 1 Lythraceae Cuphea ignea Shrub 0 1 0 0 0 Mimosaceae Acacia mearnsii Tree 1 1 1 1 1 nilotica subsp. indica Tree 0 0 1 1 0 Moraceae Ficus benjamina Tree 0 1 1 1 0 arnottiana Tree 0 1 0 0 1 Myrtaceae Syzygium cumini Tree 0 0 1 1 1 Melaleuca bracteata tree 0 0 1 0 0 Nyctaginaceae Boerhavia diffusa Herb 1 1 0 0 1 Oxalidaceae Oxalis corniculata Herb 1 1 1 1 1 Passifloraceae Passiflora foetida Climber 1 0 0 0 1 Poaceae Bambusa vulgaris Grass 0 1 0 0 0 Echinocloea crus galli Grass 1 1 1 1 1 setaceum Pennisetum „Rubrum‟ Grass 0 1 0 0 1 Pennisetum ciliare Grass 1 1 1 1 1 Pontederiaceae Commelina benghalensis Herb 0 1 1 0 0 Pteridaceae Pteris vittata Pteridophyte 1 1 1 0 1 Urticaceae Laportea interrupta Herb 0 0 1 0 1 Verbenaceae Lantana camara Shrub 1 1 1 0 1 involucrata Shrub 0 0 1 0 1 montevidensis Shrub 0 0 1 1 0 Vitaceae Cissus vitiginea Shrub 0 0 1 0 1 29 38 42 21 36
FAMILY-WISE DISTRIBUTION
From the family wise distribution data, we can observe that the family with the most number of invasives is Asteraceae (10), followed by Amaranthaceae (5) and Caesalpiniaeceae (5).
HABIT-WISE DISTRIBUTION
The habit wise distribution study of the invasive flora shows that most invasives are herbaceous. Family: Amaranthaceae
Alternanthera Tenella
Pop. Name: - Sanguenaria Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout Propagation: Seeds Fl & Fr: July – January
Description: Ascending or prostate perennial herb, rooting from the basal nodes. Leaves are lanceolate, spathulate, elliptic-oblanceolate or ovate-suborbicular. Spikes are subsessile, usually solitary, globose or ovoid. Found in abundance along railway tracks, road sides and degraded forest lands.
Alternanthera paronychioides
Pop. Name: -
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – November
Description: Prostrate, creeping herbs; stem with long crisped hairs on the younger parts. Leaves are oblanceolate-elliptic, sessile and hairy. Have flowers in numerous heads. Utricle is orbicular, a seed discoid, and faintly reticulate. It is an occasional weed along edges of tanks, ditches and in marshy lands.
Alternanthera philoxeroides
Pop. Name: Alligator weed
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Vegetative
Fl & Fr: August – November
Description: Aquatic or marshy prostrate herbs, with many erect branches, lower nodes rooting, stem fistular. Leaves are opposite, elliptic-lanceolate to obovate-lanceolate, base narrowed down to an indistinct petiole. Rarely flowers but with no seed set. It is an aggressive colonizer and a troublesome weed in stagnant water bodies, drainage channels and marshy lands.
Alternanthera pungens
Pop. Name: -
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds, Vegetative
Fl & Fr: August – December.
Description: It is a spiny prostrate herb; branches are vilous-hairy. Leaves of the same pair unequal, obliquely elliptic to suborbicular, opposite-decussate; has two or more spikes. It is a troublesome weed in gardens, cultivated fields and forest openings.
Alternanthera sessilis
Pop. Name: Joyweed
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds, Vegetative
Fl & Fr: August – December.
Description: A sessilis is a perennial herb with prostrate stems, often rooting at the nodes, Leaves are obovate, occasionally linear-lanceolate. Has flowers in sessile spikes, Fruits are utricles and seeds are lenticular. The species occurs in estuarine habitats, riparian zones, ruderal/disturbed areas, wetlands, gardens, open fields and plantations. According to the Corine Land Cover nomenclature, the following habitats are invaded: coastal wetlands, banks of continental water, riverbanks / canalsides (dry river beds), road and rail networks and associated land, other artificial surfaces (wastelands), green urban areas, including parks, gardens, sport and leisure facilities, arable land.
Family: Apocynaceae
Calotropis gigantea
Pop. Name: Madar, Swallo Wort
Nativity: Trop. Africa
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: Throughout the year
Description: Large bushy shrubs, covered with white soft wool. Leaves are elliptic or oblong. Has inflorescence an umbellate panicle, axillary or terminal and corolla is white or purple, lobes spreading. Follicles are oblong and inflated; seeds ovate to oblongand are silky. It is an aggressive colonizer and common in cultivated fields, scrub lands and waste lands.
Catharanthus roseus
Pop. Name: Periwinkle
Nativity: Tropics
Distribution in India: Throughout
Fl & Fr: Throughout the year
Description: Periwinkle is a happy-go-lucky small shrub. It cares not for the world. It rejoices in sun or rain, or the seaside, in good or indifferent soil and often grows wild. It is known as 'Sadabahar' meaning 'always in bloom' and is used for worship. Numerous soft- wood branches from the ground, give it an appearance of fullness. Closely planted it can have an impressive effect with its various colours. This is one flower which can be found all over India. Lots of cultivars have been developed with various colours, from red to white.
Family: Asteraceae
Tagetes erecta
Pop. Name: Marigold
Nativity: Tropics
Distribution in India: Throughout
Fl & Fr: Throughout the year
Description: Marigold is among the very popular flowers commonly found in India and other countries. They can be easily cultivated, are widely adaptable to varying soils and climatic conditions and have a good flowering duration. This bushy plant with around 20 to 30 species, have a long flowering period and the colours range from orange, yellow, gold, cream to apricot. They are very much used in making garlands. Make excellent beds and pot decorations.
Ageratum conyzoides
Pop. Name: Goat weed
Nativity: Trop. America (introduced in India during the 16th century)
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: July – January
Description: Annual, erect, foetid herbs up to one metre tall. Leaves are ovate or triangular, base is rounded or truncate. Florets are blue or white. It is an aggressive colonizer and a troublesome weed in gardens, cultivated fields and forests.
Blainvillea acmella
Pop. Name: -
Nativity: Trop. America (introduced in India during 18th century)
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – December
Description: Annual erect herbs. Stems clothed with white, crisped hairs. Leaves are ovate lanceolate, base is cuneate. It is an aggressive colonizer and a common weed in cultivated fields, degraded forests, scrub lands and along road sides.
Chromoalena odorata
Pop. Name: Siam weed
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: December – May
Description: Erect herbs, up to two metres tall. Leaves are ovate, base is cuneate. Heads in terminal corymbs, pink, homogamous. It is an aggressive colonizer and a common weed of open moist forests and along railway tracks and road sides.
Emilia sonchifolia
Pop. Name: - Lilac tasselweed
Nativity: Trop. Africa
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – March
Description: Annual erect herbs to forty centimetres tall. Leaves are radical and cauline. Heads in loose terminal corymbs, pink, homogamous. It is a common weed of forests, cultivated fields, scrub lands and waste lands.
Galinsoga parviflora
Pop. Name: - Potato weed
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – January
Description: Annual erect herbs, to fifty centimetres tall. Leaves are lanceolate. Head is terminal, yellow and heterogamous. It is an occasional weed of moist places of forests, plantations and high elevation grasslands.
Cosmos sulphurous
Pop. Name: - Orange cosmos
Nativity: Mexico
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: All year
Description: The orange cosmos is becoming increasingly popular for its ease of growth, spectacular flowers and attractiveness to butterflies. Orange cosmos has rich green feathery foliage that is coarser than that of the common cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) but is just as pretty. Depending on variety and conditions, yellow cosmos will grow anywhere from one to seven feet in height. Each plant produces quantities of solitary, bowl-shaped yellow to orange flowers.
Vernonia indica
Pop. Name: - Indian vernonia
Nativity: Tropics
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: December
Description: Indian Vernonia is a large herb, about sixty to eighty centimetres tall with white velvety branchlets. Alternately arranged, short-stalked leaves are elliptic with pointed tip and toothed margins. Leaves are green above and white-woolly beneath. Flower-heads are pink, borne in panicles. Bracts below the flowers are ovate. Florets are bisexula, tubular, purple, with five stamens. Fruit is an achene, ten-ribbed. Indian Vernonia is found on the hilly slopes of Peninsular India.
Tridax procumbens
Pop. Name: Mexican Daisy, Coat Buttons
Nativity: Trop. Central America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: Throughout the year
Description: Annual, decumbent herbs up to thirty centimetres high. Leaves are ovate, opposite, strigose on both sides. Heads are solitary, terminal, yellow, and heterogamous. . Common weed, along railway tracks, road sides, in cultivated fields and degraded forests.
Eclipta prostrate
Pop. Name: -False daisy
Nativity: Trop. America (introduced in India before 1824)
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: June – March
Description: Erect or decumbent herbs, about thirty centimetres high. Stems are striate, and sparingly strigose. Leaves are opposite, elliptic-ovate, acute to attenuate at base, distantly serrate, sparingly strigose on both surfaces. Flowers are white in axillary with one or two heads and have peduncles up to two centimetres long.
Family: Balsaminaceae
Impatiens balsamina
Pop. Name: Garden balsam
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: July – January
Description: Annual and erect herbs. Leaves are alternate and elliptic-lanceolate. Flowers are two centimetres across, with long curved spur. Capsules are ellipsoid, acute, tomentose. They are aggressive colonizers and are common along streams of moist forests and occasionally along railway tracks; also runs wild in gardens.
Impatiens oppositifolia- minor
Pop. Name: Rosemary leaved balsam
Nativity: Tropics
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August- October
Description: Rosemary Leaved Balsam is an annual herb, thirty to fifty centimetres high. One of its species has the name rosmarinifolia, meaning it has leaves like rosemary (Rosemary is a plant with narrow leaves). The leaves of Rosemary Leaved Balsam are opposite, narrow lancelike, with spiny teeth. Upper leaves are stalkless, while the lower ones have stalks. Orange-purple flowers occur in leaf axils either solitary or in groups of two to three. The standard petals are round. The lip is conical like a hook.
Family: Bignoniaceae
Spathodea campanulata
Pop. Name: African tulip tree
Nativity: Tropics
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August- October
Description: One of the world's most spectacular flowering trees, African tulip tree is a large upright tree with glossy deep green pinnate leaves and glorious orange scarlet flowers. It may grow to eighty feet on an ideal site, but most specimens are much smaller. The tree has a stout, tapering, somewhat buttressed trunk covered in warty light gray bark. The lateral branches are short and thick. The one to two feet long opposite leaves, which emerge a bronzy colour, are massed at the ends of the branches. A horn shaped velvety olive buds appear in upturned whorls at the branch tips. Sometimes, the buds of the lowest tier bend outward and open into big crinkled red orange tulip-like bells with red streaked gold throats, frilly yellow edges, and four brown-anthered stamens in the center. They are followed by five to ten green-brown finger-like pods pointing upwards and outwards above the foliage. Each of these pods contains about five hundred tissue papery seeds. The tree flowers in spurts all through the growing season, but peak bloom is usually in the spring.
Family : Caesalpiniaceae
Cassia pumila
Pop. Name: -
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: July – March
Description: They are prostrate herbs with pubescent branches. Leaves are three centimetres long. Flowers are solitary with five Stamens and no staminodes. It is a common weed in open forests and grassy localities, under shade.
Family : Cannaceae
Canna indica
Pop. Name: - Canna
Nativity: South America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Fl & Fr: July – March
Description: Canna or Canna lily are extremely common garden plants, that have large, attractive foliage and horticulturists have turned them into a large, brash, bright and sometimes gaudy, garden plant. In addition, it is one of the world's richest starch sources, and is an agricultural plant. Though cannas are among our most common garden plants their flowers are among the most complex and hard to interpret. In canna flowers the bright "petals" are actually stamens modified to look like petals. Such modified stamens are often called staminodia. Atop the green, roundish ovary arise three small, usually green sepals. There are also three petals, which can be green or colored.
Family: Cleomaceae
Cleome monophylla
Pop. Name: -
Nativity: Trop. Africa
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – December
Description: It is an erect herb with glandular pubescent branchlets. Leaves are simple, oblong or lanceolate. Have racemes up to twenty centimetres. Flowers are pink with six stamens. Capsules are up to eight centimetres and are strongly ribbed. It is a common weed of cultivated fields, waste lands and scrub.
Cleome rutidosperma
Pop. Name: - Fringed spider flower
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – November
Description: Erect herb; stem ribbed with sparse soft, prickle like appendages. Leaves trifoliolate, lower ones long petioled, higher ones short petioled or sessile; leaflets elliptic-rhomboid or elliptic-lanceolate, 0.5-3 x 0.3-1.5 cm, base cuneate, serrulate. Flowers solitary, violet-blue, in leaf axils. Capsule slightly compressed, attenuate at both ends, to 6 cm long. Seeds dark brown, reniform, 1-1.5 mm across, cleft open. Occasional along railway tracks, road sides and in crop lands.
Cleome viscosa
Pop. Name: Dog Mustard
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – December
Description: Erect herb to 1m; branchlets viscid. Leaves 3-5 foliolate; leaftlets obovate or elliptic, middle one 2-4.5 X1 - 2 cm, laterals 1.3-3.5 x 0.8 - 1.5 cm, inequilateral, base cuneate, ciliate, apex acute; petiole to 4.5 cm. Racemes to 25 cm; flowers yellow; stamens 12-20. Capsule terete to 7 cm, ribs oblique, glandular hairy,beak 5 mm, dehiscing from above; seeds to 1.5 across, clefts closed, glabrous, transverse ridges prominent, concentric ones faint. Aggressive colonizer. Common weed of cultivated fields, waste lands, scrub lands and degraded forests.
Family: Combretaceae
Terminalia catappa
Pop. Name: Indian almond
Nativity: Tropics
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: February-May
Description: Indian almonds are spreading trees with large, leathery, oval leaves which turn red before they fall. The tree has a distinctive shape, its horizontal branches growing in wide spreading circles at different levels on the trunk. The greenish - white female - and male flowers are on the same tree; these flowers are inconspicuous and not very showy. The pale green fruit is the size and shape of an almond in its shell. Some varieties become reddish- purple when ripe. The nuts are edible, taste like almonds and are eaten. A highly ornamental tree, much planted in avenues and gardens.
Amischophacelus axillaris
Pop. Name: Creeping cradle plant
Nativity: Tropics
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Runners
Fl & Fr: August-October
Description: Creeping Cradle Plant is a creeping succulent herb, 15-45 cm, with erect tops. Stalkless, narrow, linear-lancelike leaves are 5-15 cm long. Violet blue flowers are 5-6 mm across, couched in inflated sheaths in each leaf axil. Petals are broadly ovate and the filaments are bearded with long blue hairs, which give the flowers a hairy appearance. It is a common weed of cultivations in the slopes and plains of the Western Ghats.
Family: Convolvulaceae
Evolvulus nummularius
Pop. Name: -Roundleaf bindweed
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: October – February
Description: A prostrate herb that roots at nodes. Leaves are suborbicular and small. Flowers are 1 or 2 per node, white and in cymes; the sepals are not enlarged in the fruit. The capsules are 1-celled, valved and 4 mm across. It is a common weed of cultivated fields and forest fringes.
Xenostegia tridentate
Pop. Name: -Arrowleaf morning glory
Nativity: Tropics
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Runners
Fl & Fr: All year
Description: Arrow-leaf Morning Glory is a perennial creeper which grows up to 2 m long, and is which commonly found growing on deep sand. Its leaves are almost linear, 5 up to 10cm long, but only up to 1cm wide, dilated toward base. The base of the leaves is arrowshaped, with their 3-lobed, tooth-like base margin. Small yellow flowers sit on up to 6 cm long stalks. Flowers are funnel shaped, pale yellowish or white, with or without a maroon to brown center, 1.6 cm in size. Arrowleaf morning glory's habitat is sandy fields near the coast, cultivated areas, wasteland, roadsides, forest openings.
Ipomoea quamoclit
Pop. Name: Cypress Vine
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – December
Description: Twining, glabrous annual with weak stems. Leaves alternate, pinnatifid, dissected, segments filiform, numerous. Flowers in cymes, bright red, salver form, 2.5 cm in diam., when expanded. Capsule globose, 0.5 cm across, 4-6-valved. Seeds oblong; septum persistent, white, membranous. Occasional on hedges and runs wild near habitation and gardens.
Family : Cyperaceae
Cyperus iria
Pop. Name: -Rice flatsedge
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Peninsular India
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – January
Description: Erect sedge to 75 cm tall. Stem sparsely tufted or solitary, triquetrous. Leaves flat or channelled, to 15 cm, scaberulous, sheaths purplish. Inflorescence compound or decompound, 3-10 cm. Spikes ovoid, 15-20 spikeletted. Spikelets spicate, oblong 18-20–flowered. Glumes broadly obovate. Nut obovoid or ellipsoid, trigonous, to 1 mm, pale yellow to grey, apiculate. Occasional in rice fields, ditches and edges of tanks
Carex trifida
Pop. Name: Mutton bird sedge
Nativity: New Zealand
Distribution in India: Throughout India
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr:
Description: Variegated leaves. Grown as an ornamental plant.
Family :Euphorbiaceae
Chamaesyce hirta
Pop. Name: Snake weed
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – December
Description: Erect or decumbent herbs to 50 cm tall. Leaves 0.5-3 x 0.6-1.6 cm, elliptic- lanceolate, obliquely acute-rounded at base, margin serrulate-serrate, apex subacute-acute, chartaceous. Flowers greenish, in axillary, cymose cyathia. Capsule 1.8 mm, pubescent. Seeds 1mm, angled, shallowly furrowed. Aggressive colonizer. Abundant along railway tracks, road sides, in cultivated fields and forests.
Family: Fabaceae
Mimosa pudica
Pop. Name: Touch-Me-Not, Sleeping Grass
Nativity: Brazil (introduced in India during 16th century)
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: July – February
Description: Prickly, suffrutescent herbs; branches prostrate, spreading. Pinnae 1-2 subdigitate pairs, to 4 cm long. Leaflets 15-20 pairs, linear, elliptic-oblong, overlapping, base truncate, margin ciliate, acute at apex, hispid. Flowers pale pink. Pods 2-5 jointed, oblong, 2-4 cm; margins distinctly bristly. Aggressive colonizer. Common weed of cultivated fields, scrub lands and degraded forests.
Senna tora
-
Pop. Name: Sickle Senna
Nativity: Trop. South America (introduced in India before 1824)
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – December
Description: Annual herbs. Leaves 6-9 cm long, with subulate glands between the leaflets, leaflets 3-5 pairs, obovate-oblong, obtuse, apiculate at apex, 5 x 2.5 cm; a gland between leaflets of each of two lower pairs. Flowers in axillary pairs. Stamens 6-7. All seven anthers rounded at apex. Pod apiculate, subtetragonal, 12 x 0.5 cm. Aggressive colonizer. Abundant along railway tracks, road sides and degraded forest lands
Leucaena leucocephala
Pop. Name: Lead tree, Horse Tamarind
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – March
Description: Trees to 5 m tall. Leaves bipinnate, pinnae 3-8 pairs, 4-12 cm. long; leaflets 12-20 pairs, ovate-oblong. Flowers white or pale green or yellow, in globose heads. Pods 10-20 x 1.5-2.3 cm, brown, flat, glabrous, strap shaped, oblong, straight, flattened. Runs wild in waste lands, scrub lands and fringes of plantations.
Family:Lamiaceae
Hyptis suaveolens
Pop. Name: Wild Spikenard
Nativity: Trop. America
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – March
Description: Aromatic, erect, undershrubs to 3 m tall; branches terete to 4-gonous, ovate, 2-7 x 1-6 cm, chartaceous, strigose, base obliquely truncate to acute, irregularly serrulate, apex acute. Flowers in verticils or in short, stalked cymes, about 6-flowered, axillary; corolla blue. Nutlets 2, ovoid or oblong, 2 aborted and seen as rudimentary white structures at base, erect, basilar. Aggressive colonizer. Common weed of forests, cultivated fields and along railway tracks and road sides Family : Lythraceae
Cuphea ignea
Pop. Name: Cigar Plant
Nativity: Mexico
Distribution in India: Throughout
Propagation:
Fl & Fr:
Description: Cigar plant is a subshrub,that grows to about 3 ft tall with a similar spread. The leaves are lance shaped or narrowly elliptical and dark green, 2.5-4 cm long and 0.6-1.3 cm wide. They are arranged oppositely on the stems and flowers arise from leaf axils. The species name ignea is Latin for fire. This comes from the bright orange flowers that inspire the common name cigar flower. Indeed, they are 1 inch long, tubular fin shape with a somewhat darker tip look like the burning cigarette tip.
Family: Mimosaceae
Acacia mearnsii
Pop. Name: Black Wattle
Nativity: South East Australia
Distribution in India: Western Ghats
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr: August – March
Description: Tree to 12 m tall; crown conical or rounded; stems without spines or prickles. Leaves bipinnate, on petioles to 2.5 cm long, with a gland above; rachis 4–12 cm long with numerous raised glands all along its upperside; pinnae in 8–30 pairs, pinnules in 16–70 pairs, linear-oblong, 1.5–4 x 0.5–0.75 mm. Flowers in globose heads, pale yellow. Pods moniliform, dehiscing, usually 3–10 x 0.5– 0.8 cm, with 3–14 joints; seeds black, smooth. Introduced for afforestation in Western Ghats. Regenerates rapidly after fire and forms dense thickets. It is distributed in forests and grazing lands in high altitude areas.
Acacia nilotica subsp. indica
Pop. Name: Babool
Nativity: West Asia
Distribution in India: Through out
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr:
Description: Babool is a medium to large tree, native to West Asia that can reach a height of 10 m, with an average of 4-7 m in height. The crown is somewhat flattened or rounded, with a moderate density. The branches have a tendency to droop downwards if the crown is roundish. The bark is blackish grey or dark brown in mature trees and deeply grooved, with longitudinal fissures. The young branches are smooth and grey to brown in colour. The young twigs are covered in short hairs. Paired, slender, straight spines grow from a single base and sometimes curve backwards, are up to 80 mm long and whitish but often reddish brown in colour. The leaves are twice compound, i.e. they consist of 5-11 feather-like pairs of pinnae; each pinna is further divided into 7-25 pairs of small, elliptic leaflets that can be bottle to bright green in colour. Flowers are bright yellow, numerous, in fluffy globular heads 1.2 cm diameter, usually in clusters of 2 to 6, on individual pubescent axillary stalks 1.5 to 2 cm long.
Family: Moraceae
Ficus benjamina
Pop. Name: Weeping fig
Nativity: South and South-east Asia
Distribution in India: Through out
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr:
Description: It is a tree reaching 30 m tall in natural conditions, with gracefully drooping branchlets and glossy leaves 6-13 cm long, oval with a pointed tip. In its native range, its small fruit are a favorite food of some birds. It is a very popular house plant, due to its elegant growth and tolerance of poor growing conditions; it does best under bright, sunny conditions but will also tolerate considerable shade. Weeping Fig has many varieties like Ficus benjamina var. nuda and Ficus benjamina var. comosa Ficus arnottiana
Pop. Name: Indian rock fig
Nativity: South and South-east Asia
Distribution in India: Through out
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr:
Description: Indian Rock Fig is a tree which is commonly mistaken for Peepal (Ficus religiosa). Leaves are typical peepal like, but with wavy margins. One of the common ways of recognizing Ficus arrnottiana from Ficus religiosa is to examine the color of the leaf-stalk and the veins which are bright Pink to red in colour. The Leaf tips of F. religiosa are tapering, acuminate and long as against the leaf tips of F. arnottiana which are pointed and acuminate but not long.
Family :Myrtaceae
Syzygium cumini
Pop. Name: Jamun
Nativity: Indonesia and India
Distribution in India: Through out
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr:
Description :Indian mythology describes the Indian subcontinent as an island, 'situated in the centre of the world', called Jambudweep. Because of a majority of Jamun (black berry) trees, this island was named as Jambudweep. An evergreen tropical tree, 50 to 100 ft. tall, with oblong opposite leaves that are smooth, glossy and having a turpentine smell. Jamun has fragrant white flowers in branched clusters at stem tips and purplish- black oval edible berries. The fruit and seeds are sweet, acrid, sour, tonic, and cooling, and are used in diabetes, diarrhoea and ringworm.
Melaleuca bracteata
Pop. Name: Golden Bottlebrush
Nativity: Australia
Distribution in India: Through out
Propagation: Seeds
Fl & Fr:
Description: Golden Bottle Brush is a charming small tree, growing up to 15 m high with hard, fissured bark. The branches are slender, hanging down like bottle-bush branches, to which it is closely related. The leaves are initially golden, and turn green with time. Leaves are alternate, narrow-ovate to ovate, only 1–2.8 cm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, tip sharp. Flowers are small creamy, tiny bottle-brushes 1.5–3.5 cm long, appearing in spring. Flowers are solitary or in threes within each bract. In its native habitat in Australia, it grows along creek banks. Attracts insects and bees. Timber is durable and useful for posts and poles. Oil is used to increase the potency of some insecticides
CHAPTER III: Recommendations
Overview:
It is starkly evident from the above analysis and data that a majority of the flora is non-native, and a sizeable portion of that is invasive. While it is important to provide scenic and aesthetic beauty, it is even more important to develop flora that is in sync with the biodiversity outside. The reason is that the boundary between the campus and the outside is highly porous, and seed dispersal occurs anyway. Also, certain species are perceived as aesthetically displeasing or something that doesn't 'fit' but something that fits perfectly well in an ecological perspective. For example, zizyphus mauritiana is a thorny shrub/tree that spreads readily via birds. However, while flowering adult trees are left alone, saplings are continually cropped. This is an unsustainable procedure.
A second problem that is bound to increase in the future is the 'menace' of monkeys and scavenging birds. Not providing them with natural food sources will not dissuade them from trying to find food from other sources – thereby coming in contact with humans. What we suggest is plant trees and shrubs that provide food/shelter at the periphery of the campus so not only will these 'menace' agents stay away but balance the ecosystem.
A third, more potent problem, is that of snakes and rats. Both of them are closely related – snakes come wherever rats are aplenty and rats frequent places where a lot of waste food is available. The issue of food disposal is thus a poignant one and needs to be addressed. The biodiversity angle to the issue – within the domain of this project – is the reason for such large numbers of both rats and snakes. There is need to modify the landscape a little to accommodate more trees and greater foliage. While it may seem contradictory and hypocritical to suggest such a measure, what we suggest is a mere change from one equilibrium system to another. The rat population can be controlled only by big snakes and predatory birds – big snakes are ruled out in an urban setting but provisions can still be made for predatory birds – owls, hawks, eagles and falcons.
A common thread therefore is to increase the number of trees on campus, and not just any trees but trees that are native to the area and ones that provide ample food and shelter to native species. The following pages aims to provide an organized way of doing just that. To summarize, the following are the advantages -
- A balanced ecosystem – where predator and prey numbers are controlled and one that is scientifically (And consequently aesthetically) pleasing
- Controlling, redistribution and mitigation of numbers of 'unnecessary fauna' – snake numbers, rats, birds, Langur monkeys and the like.
- Better biodiversity – perhaps enough to even allow Biological Science M.Sc. Students to undertake field experiments
- Provide much needed, almost proverbial, shade under the tree.
- Help justify the name as a Green campus and reaffirm that opinion. Trees found on campus
Sl. No. Scientific Tree Common name 1 Acacia auriculiformis Earleaf acacia 2 Acacia mangium Mangium 3 Acacia mearnsii Black Wattle 4 Acacia nilotica subsp. indica Babool 5 Albizia chinensis Chinese albizzia 6 Albizia saman Rain tree 7 Alstonia scholaris Indian Devil tree 8 Anacardium occidentale Cashew 9 Arauacaria columnaris Coral reef araucaria 10 Artocarpus heterophyllus Jack fruit 11 Averrhoa bilimbi Bilimbi 12 Azadirachta indica Neem 13 Bauhinia purpurea Orchid tree 14 Bombax ceiba Silk Cotton Tree 15 Callistemon viminalis Bottle brush 16 Careya arborea wild guava/ Ceylon Oak 17 Carica papaya Papaya 18 Caryota urens Fish tail palm/toddy palm 19 Cassia fistula Golden shower 20 Cassia roxburghii Red cassia, Ceylon Cassia 21 Casuarina equisitifolia Whistlingpine 22 cocos nucifera coconut 23 Coleonema pulchrum aurea Golden Diosma 24 Cordia sebestena Scarlet cordia 25 Couroupita guianensis Cannonball tree 26 Cyrtostachys renda Sealing Wax Palm 27 Dalbergia sissoo Shisham 28 Delonix regia Gulmohar 29 Dillenia indica Elephant apple 30 Dombeya wallichii Pink Ball 31 Dypsis lutescens Golden Cane Palm 32 Erythrina stricta var. suberosa Indian Coral Tree 33 Ficus arnottiana Indian Rock Fig 34 ficus benghalensis Banyan 35 Ficus benjamina Benjamin's fig 36 Ficus callosa N/A 37 Ficus exasperata Sandpaper fig 38 Ficus glomerata Cluster Fig 39 Ficus hispida Hairy fig 40 Ficus religiosa Peepal 41 Ficus semicordata Drooping fig 42 Gliricidia sepium Mexican lilac 43 Grevillia robusta Silver Oak 44 grewia spp. unknown2 45 Haldina cordifolia Haldi 46 Helicteres isora East-Indian screw tree 47 Hibiscus brackenridgei Yellow hibiscus 48 Hibiscus rosa sinensis China Rose 49 Holarrhena pubescens Indrajao 50 Holoptelea integrifolia Indian Elm 51 Kigelia africana Sausage tree 90 Lagerstroemia speciosa Pride of India 52 Lannea coromandelica Indian Ash tree (unknown1) 53 Leucaena leucocephala Wild Tamarind 54 Macaranga indica Macaranga 55 Magnolia champaca Golden Champa 56 Mangifera indica Mango 57 Manilkara zapota Sapota 58 Melaleuca bracteata Golden bottle brush 59 Melia azederach Persian lilac 60 Microcos paniculata Shiral, Microcos 61 Mimusops elengi Spanish cherry 62 Moringa oleifera Drumstick tree 63 Murraya koenigii Curry leaf tree 64 Musa paradisiaca Banana 65 Neolamarckia cadamba Kadam 66 Ochna lanceolata Chilimbi 67 Peltophorum pterocarpum Yellow Poinciana 68 Phyllanthus acidus Malay gooseberry 69 Platycladus orientalis Morpankhi 70 Plumeria rubra acutifolia Frangiapani 71 Polyalthia longifolia False Ashok 72 pongamia pinnata Indian beech tree 73 Psidium guajava Apple Guava 74 Punica granatum Pomegranate 75 Roystonea regia Royal Palm 76 Schefflera actinophylla Octopus Tree 77 Senna multiglandulosa Buttercup Bush 78 Senna polyphylla Desert Cassia 79 Spathodea campanulata African Tulip Tree 80 Sterculia urens Gulu 81 Syzygium cumini Jambul 82 Tabernaemontana coronaria var. vareigata Crape Jasmine 83 Tecoma stans Yellow Trumpetbush 84 tectona grandis Teak 85 Terminalia arjuna Arjun 86 Terminalia catappa Indian Almond 87 Terminalia muelleri Australian almond 88 Trema orientalis Indian Charcoal Tree 89 Ziziphus mauritiana Indian jujube
The above list consists of some native, non-native, invasive, rare and common species of trees on campus (The trees in bold are native to the Western Ghats and are of considerable ecological importance)
There are 3 broad categories –
(a) Trees that we already have but whose numbers need to be increased, and whose saplings can be arranged for
(b) – Trees which are already being planted
(c) – Trees that are not on campus but can be planted i.e. saplings can be arranged for
Category A
Trees found sporadically on campus and whose numbers ought to increase:
1. Alstonia scholaris Devil Tree (Eng.), Shaitan ka Jar(Hin.), Santni Rooku(Kon.) This elegant evergreen tree is found in most parts of India. In October small, green yet fragrant flowers appear. All parts of the tree can be considered poisonous. It is easy to propagate and has an almost 100% germination rate, although seeds are difficult to find.
2. Azadirachta indica Indian Lilac (Eng.), Neem (Hin.), Kodu Nimb (Kon.) Neem is a fast growing tree that can reach a height of 15-20 m, rarely to 35-40 m. It is evergreen but under severe drought it may shed most or nearly all of its leaves. The branches are wide spread.
3. Bombax ceiba Silk Cotton Tree (Eng.), Shalmali (Hin,), Saluka (Kon.) Semul is quite a fast growing tree and can attain a girth of 2 to 3 m, and height about 30 m, in nearly 50 years or so. It is popular for construction work and is a food plant for the larvae of some Lepidoptera species
4. Careya arborea Ceylon Oak/Wild Guava (Eng.), Kumbhi(Hin.), Kombyo(Kon.) Wild Guava is a medium sized deciduous tree, up to 20 m tall, the leaves of which turn red in the cold season. An astringent gum exudes from the fruit and stem, and the bark is made into coarse cordage. The bark of the tree is used for astringent and mucilaginous properties
5. Caryota urens FishTail/Toddy Palm (Eng.), Mari (Hin.), Birlomaad(Kon.) Fishtail palm is a fast growing feather palm that makes a beautiful addition to the landscape. It has a grey trunk that is covered by regularly spaced leaf scar rings. When the lowest flower blooms, the tree dies. Flowers are long plait like bunches hanging down.
6. Erythrina stricta var. suberosa Indian Coral Tree (Eng.), Mahamed (Hin.), Pongero(Kon.) Tree is a medium sized throny tree with distinctly orange, corky bark and an irregular crown. The tree is a captivating sight when in bloom, with clusters of bright, orange- scarlet up-facing flower clusters sitting at the end of branchlets like exotic waterlilies.
7. ficus benghalensis Banyan tree (Eng.), barh (Hin.), Goli rooku (Kon.) Ficus benghalensis, the banyan, is a large and extensive growing tree of the Indian subcontinent. Ficus benghalensis produces propagating roots which grow downwards as aerial roots.
8. Ficus callosa It is a canopy tree in evergreen to semi-evergreen, sometimes in secondary forest up to 1200 m. It is native to the Western_Ghats- South, Central and Maharashtra Sahyadris.
9. Ficus glomerata/recemosa Cluster fig (Eng.), Goolar (Hin.) Rhumbud (Kon.) It is an attractive fig tree with a crooked trunk and a spreading crown with no aerial roots. The most distinctive aspect of this tree is the red, furry figs in short clusters, which grow directly out of the trunk. It is commonly found in cities and towns.
10. Ficus religiosa Peepail (Eng.), Pipal(hin.), Pimpal (Kon.) Peepal is unrivalled for its antiquity and religious significance. It is a large deciduous tree with a pale stem often appearing fluted. The young leaves are frequently pink, change to copper and finally to green. Flowers minute within the receptacle. Fruit is a fig.
11. Haldina cordifolia Karam (Hin.), Haldu (Kon.) Haldu is a deciduous tree that can grow well over 20 metres high. Oppositely arranged leaves are broadly oval in shape, heart-shaped at the base and pointed at the tip. Haldu is at its blossoming best during winter. The bark of the tree acts as an antiseptic.
12. Holoptelea integrifolia Indian elm (Eng.), chilbil (Hin.), vavalo (Kon.) Indian Elm is a large deciduous tree, growing up to 18 m tall. It has grey bark, covered with blisters, peeling in corky scales on old trees. The bark of Indian Elm is used in rheumatism. Seed and paste of stem bark is used in treating ringworm.
13. Lannea coromandelica Indian Ash Tree (Eng.), Mohin (Hin.), Moi(Kon.) It is a deciduous tree, growing up to 14 m tall. Branchlets are minutely covered with starry hairs. The bark is considered astringent and stomachic; Decoction of the bark is used for toothache. The tree is fire-resistant.
14. Macaranga indica Macaranga(Eng), Chamdivado/Chandado (kon.) These trees are Heliophyllous in the openings of evergreen forests at 900-2000 m and are found in the Western_Ghats - South and Central Sahyadris.
15. Microcos paniculata Microcos(Eng.), shiral(Hin.), Asli/Chivra(Kon.) It is a large shrub or medium sized tree. Young shoots are stellate hairy and native to South and South East Asia. It is sometimes added to Chinese herbal tea, having a mildly sour taste. It is used for health problems including colds, hepatitis, diarrhea, heat stroke, and dyspepsia.
16. Mimusops elengi Spanish cherry (Eng.), Maulsari (Hin.), Omval (Kon.) Spanish cherry is a lovely green small tree of the Indian subcontinent. With its small shiny, thick, narrow, pointed leaves, straight trunk and spreading branches, it is a prized ornamental specimen because it provides a dense shade. It also has various medicinal properties
17. Sterculia urens Gum Karaya(Eng.), Kulu (Hin.) pandruk (kon.) It is a medium-sized, deciduous tree to 15 m in height, usually with a clean, crooked, short bole. Trees exude gum karaya used in foodstuffs as emulsifiers, stabilizers and thickeners. Seeds are eaten after roasting.
18. Syzygium cumini Java Plum (Eng.), Jamun (Hin.), Jambul (Kon.) It is an evergreen tropical tree, 50 to 100 ft. tall, with oblong opposite leaves that are smooth, glossy and having a turpentine smell. The fruit and seeds are sweet, acrid, sour, tonic, and cooling, and are used in diabetes, diarrhoea and ringworm.
19. Terminalia arjuna Arjun Tree (Eng.), Arjun(Hin.), Mathi ruk (Kon.) Arjuna is a large, evergreen tree, with a spreading crown and drooping branches. Grows up to 25 m height, and the bark is grey and smooth. It is styptic, tonic, anthelmintic, and useful in ulcers, asthma, excessive perspiration etc.
20. Trema orientalis Indian Charcoal tree (Eng.), Gio (Hin.), Khargul (Kon.) It is a fast-growing shade tree with soft foliage. Depending on climatic conditions, trees may be evergreen or deciduous. It is nitrogen fixing and has an immediate potential for the rehabilitation of poor exposed soils and the leaves can provide mulch.
21. Tectona grandis Teak (Eng.), Sangwan (Hin.), Saila ruuku (Kon.) It is a deciduous tree attaining a very large size. However, in cities it might be seen on the roadside as a medium sized tree with large leaves. Teak is considered a good quality wood for furniture. Flowers appear in monsoon, fruit ripens in winter.
22. Lagerstroemia speciosa Pride of India/Queen Crape Myrtle (Eng.), Jarul (Hin.), Jarul (Kon.) It is a large tree growing up to 50m but it can be kept smaller by trimming. A postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department to commemorate this flower. It also has medicinal properties.
Category B
Trees that already being planted from the sapling stage:
1. Cassia fistula Indian laburnum (Eng.), Amaltash (Hin.), Balo(Kon.)
2. Dalbergia sissoo Indian rosewood (Eng.), Shisham (Hin.), Siso(kon.)
3. Neolamarckia cadamba Burrflower tree (Eng.), Cadam(Hin.), Cadam(Kon.)
Category C
Trees not present(as of 2012 Dec.) and to be planted on campus:
- Terminalia bellirica Belleric Myrobylan(Eng.), Bahera (Hin.), goting (Kon.) It is a large deciduous tree common on plains and lower hills of the subcontinent, where it is also grown as an avenue tree. The leaves are considered good fodder for cattle. It is one of the components of triphala churan and its oil is used to decrease hair fall.
- Terminalia crenulata (State Tree of Goa) Indian laurel (Eng.), Matti (Kon.) A large deciduous tree with somewhat dark grey rough bark, younger parts more or less pubescent. It is sometimes found near riverbanks and is a good timber species.
- Dillenia pentagnya Dog teak (Eng.), Karmal (Hin.), Lahan Karmal (Kon.) Karmal is a large deciduous tree grows up to 40 meters in height. According to Ayurveda, the plant pacifies fistula, wounds, diabetes, diabetic carbuncle, neuritis, pneumonia, and burning sensations. The fruit is a favourite of Ratufa indica.
- Terminalia paniculata Flowering murdah (Eng.), Kindal, Quinzol (kon.) Known in the timber trade as kindal, it has a variety of names in local languages. It is economically important for wood, medicinal uses, and raising silkworms. It is widely planted throughout India.
- Saraca asoka Sorrowless tree (Eng.), Sita Ashok (hin.), The Ashoka is a rain-forest tree. Its original distribution is in the Deccan plateau as well as the middle section of the Western Ghats. It is an erect tree, small and evergreen, with a smooth, grey-brown bark. It is used in treating dysentery and ailments among women.
- Bischofia javanica Bishop wood (Eng.), Bhillar (Hin.), Boke (Kon.) It is a large deciduous canopy tree up to 30 m tall in evergreen to semi-evergreen forests particularly along streams. The relatively short trunk is erect, but branches are low. The tree is commonly used by tigers to scratch-mark territory.
- Schliechera oleosa Ceylon oak (Eng.), Kusum (Hin. & Kon.) It is a beautiful tree with a broad, shady crown, found widespread in South, South-East Asia. This tree is mostly noticed because of its bright red leaves when they are new. Its seeds are fire-resistant and Seedlings are frost sensitive and light-demanding.
- Pterocarpus marsupium Indian kino tree (Eng.), Assan (kon.) It is a medium to large, deciduous tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall. Parts of the tree are used as an astringent and in the treatment of inflammation and diabetes. The gum resin is the only herbal product found to regenerate beta cells in the pancreas.
- Butea monosperma Flame of the forest (Eng.), Palas (Hin.) Is a medium sized tree, growing from 20 to 40 feet high, and the trunk is usually crooked. It has bright velvet-covered flaming orange flowers consists of five petals with two smaller wings and a very curved beak-shaped keel.
- Adenanthera pavonina Red Sandalwood (Eng.), Rankt Chandan (Hin,), Odligunj (Kon.) It is a timber tree. This plant is found in the wild in India. The young leaves can be cooked and eaten. The wood is extremely hard and used in boat-building and making furniture. The seeds are used as ornaments and to treat boils and inflammations.
- Ailanthus triphysa White Siris (Eng.) A medium to tall evergreen tree to 30 m and diameter of 1.2 m. The trunk is not buttressed, but rather straight and cylindrical. The bark is grey, somewhat rough and resembling sandpaper to the touch.
- Canarium strictum Black Dammar (Eng.), kala dammar (Hin. And Kon.) They are lofty, evergreen, rufous trees used among tribal and folk people for treating rheumatism, fever, cough, asthma and chronic skin disorders. They are used in incense and varnish industries. It is also used as a substitute for burgundy pitch.
- Garcinia indica Goa butter tree (Eng.), Kokum (Hin.), Bhirind (Kon.) Kokum is a tree with a dense canopy of green leaves and red-tinged tender emerging leaves. It is indigenous to the Western Ghats region of India, along the western coast. The tree is a source of kokum butter which is used in cosmetics and confectionary.
- Lagerstroemia lanceolata Ben teak (Eng.), nana (Kon.) It‟s a large deciduous tree with a smooth falling with papery flakes and has valuable timber. The species is generally grown on hill slopes and in valleys with lateritic soils an also be useful as a green manure in plantation crops.
- Vitex altissma Peacock chaste tree (Eng.), Myrole (Hin.), Bavalgi (Mar.) It is a large tree growing up to 40 meters in height and is used in Ayurvedic medicine. The plant is believed to pacify inflammation, wounds, ulcers, allergy, eczema, worm infestations and ailments after parturition. It is distributed throughout much of India.
Larval Host Plants (LHPs)
Butterflies are phytophagous. The ability of herbivorous insects to feed on plants has been demonstrated to be intricately linked to plant taxonomic diversity and involves competition between plants and insects. The dominant strategy among herbivorous insect species involves specialization on a set of closely related plants. Butterfly-plant speciation, through shifts in host-plant ranking and specialization, is thought to account for a substantial part of the diversification of plant-feeding insects. All herbivorous insects show some degree of host selectivity. It is generally assumed that the process of host selection in specialist insects is governed primarily by volatile chemical signals, later by visual stimuli, and finally by non- volatile chemical stimuli. Butterflies demonstrate a hierarchy in host preferences, discriminating among plant species, among genotypes, among individuals with different phenological and physiological conditions, and even among plant parts, although not all discriminate at the finer scales. Furthermore, there may be significant behavioural differences within a family, among species of the same genus, or even among different populations of the same species. Many butterflies prefer groups of very closely related plants where the larvae obtain the entire set of nutrients required for growth and development, as well as chemicals for display (colours) and defence as adults. Thus, the relationship between any given butterfly species and its host plant is very specific. Among all the resources required by butterflies that comprise a habitat, the LHPs are the key resources, being fundamental for reproduction.
The following LHPs have been identified on campus. This list however comprises of both native and introduced species.
Sl. No: Genus Species 1 Cassia tora 2 Chromolaena odorata 3 Citrus aurantifolia 4 Cleome viscosa 5 Cocos nucifera 6 Crossandra 7 Curcuma aromatica 8 Curcuma decipiens 9 Cycas revoluta 10 Delonix regia 11 Desmodium 12 Ficus benghalensis 13 Ficus hispida 14 Ficus racemosa 15 Ficus religiosa 16 Impatiens balsamina 17 Impatiens oppositifolia 18 Indigofera 19 Ixora coccinea 20 Jasminum spp. 21 Lagerstroemia reginae 22 Lantana camara 23 Lantana involucrata 24 Lantana montenvidisis 25 Leucas aspera 26 Mangifera indica 27 Michelia champaca 28 Momordica charantia 29 Murraya koenigii 30 Phellodendron amurense 31 Phyllanthus emblica 32 Phyllanthus niruri 33 Phyllanthus acidus 34 Pisum sativum 35 Oxalis corniculata 36 Nerium oleander 37 Plumbago zeylanica 38 Polyalthia longifolia 39 Pongamia pinnata 40 Punica granatum 41 Sida rhombifolia 42 Syzigium cumini 43 Tagetes erecta 44 Terminalia catappa 45 Tridax procumbens 46 Zizyphus mauritiana 47 Abelmoschus esculentes 48 Ageratum conyzoides 49 Alternanthera tenella 50 Alternanthera sessilis 51 Alternanthera pungens 52 Amaranthus viridis 53 Anacardium occidentale 54 Annona reticulata 55 Annona squamosa 56 Annona zeylanica 57 Annona tagala 58 Bambusa vulgaris 59 Dendrocalamus strictus 60 Bauhinia racemosa 61 Vignata vexillata 62 Careya arboria 63 Caryota urens 64 Cassia auriculata 65 Cassia fistula 66 Boerhavia diffusa 67 Bombax ceiba 68 Calotropis gigantea 69 Neolomarckia cadamba 70 Rosa chinensis 71 Passiflora foetida 72 Mussanda frondosa 73 Holarrhena pubescens
To improve the overall floral and faunal biodiversity of the campus, it is highly recommended that the following larval host plants which are endemic to the Western Ghats be planted on campus. Among these, the ones marked in bold are the most suitable, taking in to account the soil and climatic conditions on campus.
Sl. No: Genus Species 1 Butea monosperma 2 Canthium coromandelicum 3 Areca cathechu 4 Aristolochia brachteolata 5 Aristolochia indica 6 Albizia lebbek 7 Aegele marmelos 8 Atalantia racemosa 9 Capparis divaricata 10 Capparis grandis 11 Capparis mooni 12 Capparis pyrifolia 13 Capparis rheedii 14 Capparis sepiaria 15 Capparis tenera 16 Capparis zeylanica 17 Capparis occidentalis 18 Capparis siamea 19 Chloroxylon swietenia 20 Cinnamonum macrocarpum 21 Cinnamonum malabatrum 22 Citrus limon 23 Dalbergia lanceolaria 24 Diascorea oppositifolia 25 Diascorea pentaphylla 26 Drypetes roxburghii 27 Flacourtia indica 28 Gnidia glauca 29 Gymnosporia montana 30 Hibiscus tiliaceus 31 Ipomoea carnea 32 Jatropha curcas 33 Justicia procumbens 34 Kalanchoe laciniata 35 Kalanchoe pinnata 36 Lagerstroemia microcarpa 37 Laportea interrupta 38 Millettia peguensis 39 Mitragyna parviflora 40 Morus alba 41 Morus indica 42 Murraya paniculata 43 Naringi crenulata 44 Nerium odorum 45 Portulaca oleracea 46 Oplimenus compositus 47 Pithecellobium dulce 48 Polyalthia cerasoides 49 Quisqualis indica 50 Saraca asoca 51 Sesbania bispinosa 52 Setaria pumila 53 Sorbaria sorbifolia 54 Stachyphrynium spicatum 55 Terminalia alata 56 Terminalia paniculata 57 Thelepaepale ixiocephala 58 Thespesia populnea 59 Tinospora cordifolia 60 Tragia involucrata 61 Tragia plukentii 62 Tricholepis 63 Urena lobata 64 Vallaris heynei 65 Waltheria indica 66 Wendlandia exserta 67 Wendlandia thyrsoidea 68 Zanthoxylum rhetsa 69 Zornia gibbosa
Medicinal Plants
Medicinal plants have been a strong motivation for conservation. In fact, most of us have propelled public opinion to protect our forests with that ideal. It is only right then that we advocate propagation of medicinal plants in an urban landscape as well, like our campus. The database in Chapter II has a list of all species and its presence or absence of medicinal property is mentioned in a column to the right. Care must be noted that it based on current knowledge and it does not imply that plants that are not medicinal as per the indication do not possess medicinal properties.
“What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is logistically infeasible to list all the medicinal; properties mentioned above. Instead, the following are the profiles of some of the salient medicinal species on campus.
1. Bauhinia purpurea
Description: Bauhinia purpurea L. (Leguminosae) is a deciduous tree. Leaves are simple and stipulate. Blade is butterfly shaped, coriaceous with 9-11 pairs of secondary veins. Flowers are showy, pink and arranged in axillary. The fruits are darkish pods, 1.5 cm and woody.
Common name:
Butterfly tree, Purple Orchid tree
Hindi: Kaniar
Kannada: Devakanchan
Marathi: Rakta chandan
Origin: Native to India and grown in the Asia-Pacific as ornamental plants.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: The root is grated with water and is drunk to treat common fever. The flowers are used as laxative and leaves applied to sores and boils, and for cough treatment.
Medicinal properties: Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antimalarial, Cytotoxic, Anticancer, Anti- inflammatory, Antinociceptive, Antipyretic and Thyroid hormone regulating.
2. Alstonia scholaris
Description: The generic name commemorates the distinguished botanist, Prof. C.Alston of Edinburg. The species name refers to the fact that the timber of this tree has been traditionally used to make wooden slates for school children. It is a tall elegant tree with greyish rough bark. Branches are whorled, and so are the leaves, that is, several of them coming out of the same point. The tree is elegant whether its flowering or not All parts of the tree can be poisonous.
Common name: Dita bark, Devil tree, Blackboard tree
Hindi: Shaitan ka jhar, Chitvan
Sanskrit: Saptaparna
Marathi: Satvin
Origin: This evergreen, tropical tree is native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: In India the bark of Alstonia scholaris is used solely for medicinal purposes, ranging from Malaria and epilepsy to skin conditions and asthma. n Ayurveda it is used as a bitter and as an astringent herb for treating skin disorders, malarial fever, urticaria, chronic dysentery, diarrhea, in snake bite and for upper purification process of Panchakarma . The Milky juice of the tree is applied to ulcers. Medicinal properties: Anti-irritant, Anit-bacterial,anthelmintic and antiperiodic
3. Azadirachta indica
Description: It is a tall evergreen tree, growing up to 30 m in height. Leaves are pinnate with opposite or alternate, lanceonate, serrated and glabrous 8-16 leaflets, 20-32 cm long. Flowers are yellowish white. Fruits are small, ellipsoid, about 5 cm long and green.
Common name: Neem tree
Hindi: Neem
Kannada: Turakabevu
Sanskrit: Nimbaka, Pakvarita
Malayalam: Ariyaveppu
Origin: A native of India and China, cultivated and naturalized throughout India, Malay Peninsula, Indonesia and Pakistan. .
Traditional Medicinal Uses: It is used for the treatment of a variety of human and veterinary ailments including head lice, mange, fleas, fever, convulsions, leprosy, scrofula, rheumatism, asthma, worn infestations, treat bacterial infection, insecticide, local application for indolent ulcer and consumed as tonic after childbirth. It is considered a major component in Ayurveda and Unani medicine and is particularly prescribed for skin disease.
Medicinal properties: Antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antiviral, contraceptive and sedative.
4. Averrhoa bilimbi
Description: The Bilimbi tree is long-lives, reaches 5-10m in height. Its trunk is short and quickly divides up into ramifications. Bilimbi leaves are alternate and cluster at branch extremities. There are around 11 to 37 alternate or subopposite oblong leaflets. This tree produces very small pickle-like fruits which are borne directly on the trunk of the tree and also on the branches.
Common name: Bilimbi tree, Cucumber tree
Hindi: Bilimbi
Kannada: Belambu
Marathi: Bilambi
Malayalam: Vilumpi
Origin: Possibly originated in Moluccas, Indonesia, the species are now cultivated and found throughout the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma) and Malaysia. It is also common in other Southeast Asian countries. In India, where it is usually found in gardens, the Bilimbi has gone wild in the warmest regions of the country.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: In the Philippines, the leaves serve as a paste on itches, swelling, rheumatism, mumps or skin eruptions. They are also used for bites of poisonous creatures. The flower infusion is used for thrush, cold and cough. Medicinal properties: antihyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-eruptions and anti- rheumatic
5. Carica papaya
Description: The Bilimbi tree is long-lives, reaches 5-10m in height. Its trunk is short and quickly divides up into ramifications. Bilimbi leaves are alternate and cluster at branch extremities. There are around 11 to 37 alternate or sub-opposite oblong leaflets. This tree produces very small pickle-like fruits which are borne directly on the trunk of the tree and also on the branches.
Common name: Papaya tree, Melon tree
Hindi: Awathabi
Marathi: Pappayi
Sanskrit: Erand karkati
Origin: It is native to the tropics of the Americas, first cultivated in Mexico and neighbouring Central America.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: It is used for the treatment of cuts, rashes, stings and burns. Women in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and other centuries have long used green papaya as an herbal medicine for contraception and abortion.
Medicinal properties: Anti-bacterial, contraceptive and in some preparations of the plant, anti-malarial and antiplasmodial activity has been noted.
6. Cassia fistula
Description: It is one of the most beautiful of all tropical trees when it sheds its leaves and bursts into a mass of long, grape-bunches like yellow gold flowers. It has a trunk consisting of hard reddish wood, growing up to to 40feet tall. The flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. The fruits are dark-brown cylindrical pods. These seeds are in cells, each containing a single seed.
Common name: Golden shower tree, Indian laburnum
Hindi: Amaltas
Marathi: Bahava
Malayalam: Vishu konnai
Origin: It is native to southern Asia, from southern Pakistan east through India to Myanmar and south to Sri Lanka. It is associated with the Mullai region of Sangam landscape.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: In Ayurvedic medicine, golden shower tree is known as aragvadha, meaning "disease killer". Both acute and chronic swelling can be effectively treated using extracts from this plant. It has been used to treat a variety of diseases, including cancer, malaria, and the common cold. It is useful as a treatment for ringworm, athlete‟s foot, and jock itch, which are all caused by a fungal infection of the skin.
Medicinal properties: laxative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral.
7. Couroupita guianensis
Description: This large deciduous tree and indigenous to the Amazon rainforest, has leaves upto 6” long, are simple with serrate margin. It has aromatic smelling, pink and dark-red and pink flowers growing directly on the bark of the trunk. The tree bears, directly on the trunk and main branches, large globose woody fruits; they look like big rusty cannonballs hanging in clusters, like balls on a string.
Common name: Canon Ball tree
Hindi: Nagalinga
Marathi: Shivalingam
Kannada: Lingadamara
Origin: It is native to tropical northern South America; and to the southern Caribbean. In India it has been growing for the past two or three thousand years at least, as attested by textual records , hence it is possible that it is native to India also. It's rare, but also found in Bangladesh.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: The trees are used to cure colds and stomach aches. Juice made from the leaves is used to cure skin diseases, and shamans of South America have even used tree parts for treating malaria. The inside of the fruit can disinfect wounds and young leaves ease toothache. The fruit emits an unpleasant odour and can be used as an insect repellent just by rubbing it to the skin or clothes.
Medicinal properties: Anti-biotic, anti-fungal, antiseptic and analgesic.
8. Ficus religiosa
Description: The Ficus religiosa tree is considered sacred by the followers of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. It is a large deciduous tree with a pale stem often appearing fluted on account of the numerous roots which have fused with the stem. Leaves are leathery, somewhat egg-shaped or rounded. The young leaves are frequently pink, change to copper and finally to green. Fruit is a fig.
Common name: Peepal tree, Bodhi tree, Sacred fig tree
Hindi: Pipal
Marathi: Pimpal
Kannada: Arali
Sanskrit: Ashwattha, Bodhivriksha
Origin: It is native to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, southwest China and Indo-China.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: It is used in traditional medicine for about 50 types of disorders including asthma, diabetes, diarrhoea, epilepsy, gastric problems, inflammatory disorders, infectious and sexual disorders.
Medicinal properties: Anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic
9. Mimusops elengi
Description: It is a lovely green small tree of the Indian subcontinent. With its small shiny, thick, narrow, pointed leaves, straight trunk and spreading branches, during the months from March to July fills the night air with the delicious heady aroma of its tiny cream coloured flowers. Oval leaves, wavy at margin. Fruits are eaten fresh.
Common name: Spanish cherry
Hindi: Maulsari
Marathi: Bakuli
Kannada: Ranjal
Origin: It is native to tropical forests of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Northern Australia.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: It is mainly used in dental ailments like bleeding gums,pyorrhea, dental caries and loose teeth. Extract of flowers used against heart diseases, leucorrhoea and menorrhagia. The snuff made from the dried and powdered flowers used in a disease called Ahwa in which strong fever, headache and pain in the neck, shoulders and other parts of the body occurs. Ripened fruits facilitates in burning urination. The ripe fruit pounded and mixed with water is given to promote delivery in childbirth. Powder of dried flowers is a brain tonic and useful as a snuff to relieve cephalalgia. Decoction of bark is used to wash the wounds.
Medicinal properties: Astringent, anthelmintic, antiduretic, antitoxin.
10. Moringa oleifera
Description: It is a small, deciduous tree. It can reach a height of about 9m, they have corky grey bark, branching and fernlike leaves. It has highly scented white flowers and long bean like seed pods. Seed pods are used as a vegetable, especially in south Indian cuisine.
Common name: Drumstick tree
Hindi: Senjana
Marathi: Shevga
Malayalam: Muringai
Origin: It is native to tropical Asia but also naturalized in Africa and tropical America.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: Moringa has been used in folk medicine, including Ayurvedic traditional medicine and in the Philippines. In Africa and Indonesia, its leaves are given to nursing mothers in the belief that they increase lactation. Moringa is undergoing preliminary research to reveal potential properties of its nutrients and phytochemicals, some of which include antibacterial effects in vitro, improved glucose tolerance in a rat model of diabetes, inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus activity in vitro and reduction of skin papillomas in mice
Medicinal properties: Astringent, anthelmintic, antiduretic, antitoxin.
11. Murraya koenigii
Description: It is a small tree, growing 4–6 m (13-20 feet) tall, with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter. The leaves are pinnate, with 11-21 leaflets, each leaflet 2–4 cm long and 1–2 cm broad. They are highly aromatic. The flowers are small, white, and fragrant. The small black shiny berries are edible, but their seeds are poisonous
Common name: Curry leaf (or „sweet neem leaves‟)
Hindi: Kari patta
Marathi: Kudianim
Kannada: Kari-bevingida
Origin: It is native to India.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: Leaves are digestive, tonic, stimulant, rich in vitamin A and calcium. Leaves are also used for diarrhoea, dysentery and checking vomiting. Bark-paste is anti-septic, applied to skin eruptions. Root extract is taken for relief from renal pain.
Medicinal properties: anti-diabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and anti-hypercholesterolemic. And they contain a lot of iron.
12. Phyllanthus acidus
Description: It is a small deciduous tree reaching about 25-30 feet in height. Leaves are compound, long, crowed at the ends of the branches leaflets. The species name is on account of the acidity of the fruit. Flowers are minute, in short dense spike-like clusters arising from nodules along the branches, like mulberries.
Common name: Star Gooseberry
Hindi: Harfarauri
Marathi: Harpharori
Tamil: Aranelli
Origin: It is native of Malay Islands and Madagascar and frequently grown in India for its acid fruit.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: The peppered leaves are used to make a poultice to treat sciatica, lumbago and rheumatism, while the seeds are used as a cathartic and the root as a purgative. The syrup is used to medicate the stomach, and in India the fruit is eaten as a blood-enhancer for the liver. P. acidus contains 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, adenosine, kaempferol and hypogallic acid.
Medicinal properties: Anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antioxidant.
13. Plumeria rubra acutifolia
Description: In tropical regions, Plumeria may reach a height of 30‟ to 40‟ and half as wide. Their widely spaced thick succulent branches are round or pointed, and have long leather, fleshy leaves in clusters near the branch tips. Leaves tend to fall in early winter since they are deciduous and sensitive to cold. It has very fragrant white flowers with yellow centers.
Common name: Plumeria
Hindi: Golachin
Tamil: Nela sampangi
Konkani: Chaempae
Origin: It is native to warm tropical areas of the Pacific Islands, Carrribean, South America and Mexico.
Medicinal Uses and Properties: Anti-inflammatory and Wound-Healing Activities , Anti- oxidative and proteolytic activities and protein profile, Antimicrobial Activity, Anti- Inflammatory, Anthelmintic Activity, Hypolipidemic Effect, the lipase activity in hydrolysis and acyl transfer reactions, Embryo toxic effect, Local Anesthetic Activity .
14. Terminalia arjuna
Description: The arjuna is about 20–25 metres tall; usually has a buttressed trunk, and forms a wide canopy at the crown, from which branches drop downwards. It has oblong, conical leaves which are green on the top and brown below; smooth, grey bark; it has pale yellow flowers which appear between March and June; its glorious, 2.5 to 5 cm fibrous woody fruit, divided into five wings, appears between September and November.
Common name: Arjun
Hindi: Arjun
Marathi: Maiyokpha
Tamil: Marutu
Origin: The arjuna is usually found growing on river banks or near dry river beds in West Bengal and south and central India
Traditional Medicinal Uses: The Arjuna was introduced into Ayurveda as a treatment for heart disease by Vagbhata. In the Ashtānga Hridayam, Vagbhata mentions arjuna in the treatment of wounds, haemorrhages and ulcers, applied topically as a powder. It is useful in fractures, ulcers, heart diseases, biliousness, urinary discharges, asthma, tumours, anaemia and excessive perspiration.
Medicinal properties: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anthelmintic.
15. Trema orientalis
Description: It is a fast-growing shade tree with soft foliage. Its bark is smooth and light grey with conspicuous lenticels. The leaves are simple, alternate. Flowers are small, inconspicuous and greenish, carried in short dense bunches.
Common name: Indian Charcoal tree, Indian Nettle, Pigeon wood.
Hindi: Jivan
Marathi: Ghol
Sanskrit: Jivanti
Origin: It is native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australia. It has a near universal distribution in tropical and warm temperate parts of the world.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: The leaves and the bark are used to treat coughs, sore throats, asthma, bronchitis, gonorrhoea, yellow fever, toothache, and as an antidote to general poisoning A bark infusion is reportedly drunk to control dysentery and a leaf decoction is used to deworm dogs. In recent pharmacological studies, an aqueous extract from the bark has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels in an experimental animal model of diabetes mellitus, and may be useful for treating this disease.
Medicinal properties: Anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and analgesic.
16. Terminalia catappa
Description: Indian almonds are spreading trees with large, leathery, oval leaves which turn red before they fall. The tree has a distinctive shape, its horizontal branches growing in wide spreading circles at different levels on the trunk. The greenish - white female - and male flowers are on the same tree; these flowers are inconspicuous and not very showy. The pale green fruit is the size and shape of an almond in its shell. Some varieties become reddish- purple when ripe. The nuts are edible, taste like almonds and are eaten.
Common name: Indian almond.
Hindi: Jangli Badam
Malayalam: Ketapag
Sanskrit: Desabadama
Origin: It is native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australia.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: Due to this chemical richness, the leaves (and also the bark) are used in different herbal medicines for various purposes. For instances, in Taiwan fallen leaves are used as a herb to treat liver diseases. In Suriname, a tea made from the leaves is prescribed against dysentery and diarrhoea.
Medicinal properties: It is also thought that the leaves contain agents for prevention of cancers (although they have no demonstrated anticarcinogenic properties) and antioxidant as well as anticlastogenic characteristics.
17. Anacardium occidentale
Description: It is a small evergreen tree growing to 10-12 m tall, with a short, often irregularly-shaped trunk. The leaves are spirally arranged, leathery textured, elliptic to obovate, with a smooth margin. The flowers are produced in a panicle or corymb, each flower small, pale green at first then turning reddish, with five slender, acute petals. What appears to be the fruit of the cashew tree is an oval or pear-shaped accessory fruit or false fruit that develops from the receptacle of the cashew flower. The true fruit of the cashew tree is a kidney or boxing-glove shaped drupe that grows at the end of the pseudofruit.
Common name: Cashew.
Hindi: Kaju
Malayalam: Kasu mavu
Sanskrit: Agnikrita
Origin: It is native to north- eastern Brazil, where it is called by its Portuguese name Caju (the fruit) or Cajueiro (the tree).
Traditional Medicinal Uses and properties: (CNSL), a byproduct of processing cashew, is mostly composed of anacardic acids (70%), cardol (18%) and cardanol (5%). These acids have been used effectively against tooth abscesses due to their lethality to a wide range of Gram-positive bacteria. The bark is scraped and soaked overnight or boiled as an antidiarrheal. Seeds are ground into powders used for antivenom for snake bites. The nut oil is used topically as an antifungal and for healing cracked heels.
18. Careya arborea
Description: Wild Guava is a medium sized deciduous tree, up to 20 m tall, the leaves of which turn red in the cold season. Leaves arranged spirally, often clustered at the apices of twigs, simple, broadly obovate, tapering at base, margin toothed, stipules small, caducous. Flowers are in an erect raceme at the end of branches. Flowers are large, white. Fruit a large, many-seeded drupe, globose to depressed globose, crowned by the persistent sepals. Seedling with hypogeal germination; cotyledons absent (seed containing a swollen hypocotyl); shoot with scales at the first few nodes
Common name: Wild Guava, Patana Oak
Hindi: Kumbhi
Malayalam: Kumbha
Sanskrit: Bhadrendrani
Origin: It is a Malaysian species, but even in Peninsular Malaysia it is rare and only occurs in the North-west.
Traditional Medicinal Uses and properties: The bark of the tree and the sepals of the flowers are well-known Indian remedies, and are valued on account of their astringent and mucilaginous properties, being administered internally in coughs and colds and applied externally as an embrocation. The fibrous bark has been applied medicinally for body swellings and is used locally for cordage.
19. Cocos nucifera
Description: The Coconut Palm is a member of the palm family. It is the only species in the Genus Cocos, and is a large palm, growing to 30 m tall, with pinnate leaves 4-6 m long, pinnae 60-90 cm long; old leaves break away cleanly leaving the trunk smooth. The term coconut refers to the fruit of the coconut palm. The flowers of the coconut palm are polygamomonoecious, with both male and female flowers in the same inflorescence. Flowering occurs continuously, with female flowers producing seeds. Coconut palms are believed to be largely cross- pollinated, although some dwarf varieties are self- pollinating.
Common name: Coconut
Hindi: Nariyal
Malayalam: Thengu
Telugu: Kobbari chettu
Origin: The origin of this plant are the subject of controversy with some authorities claiming it is native to southeast Asia, while others claim its origin is in northwestern South America. Fossil records from New Zealand indicate that small, coconut- like plants grew there as far back 15 million years ago. Even older fossils have been uncovered in Rajasthan & Maharashtra, India.
Traditional Medicinal Uses and properties: Coconuts may help benign prostatic hyperplasia. In rats, virgin coconut oil reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, LDL, and VLDL cholesterol levels and increased HDL cholesterol in serum and tissues. The hexane fraction of coconut peel may contain novel anticancer compounds. Inside a coconut is a cavity filled with coconut water, which is sterile until opened. It mixes easily with blood, and was used during World War II in emergency transfusions. It can also serve as an emergency short-term intravenous hydration fluid. Coconut is also commonly used as a traditional remedy in Pakistan to treat bites from rats. In Brazil, coconut is known as coco-da- bahia, coco-da-baía or coqueiro-da-índia. The tea from the husk fiber is widely used to treat several inflammatory disorders.
20. Mangifera indica
Description: The mango tree is erect, 30 to 100 ft high, with a broad, rounded canopy which may, with age, attain 100 to 125 ft in width, or a more upright, oval, relatively slender crown. In deep soil, the taproot descends to a depth of 20 ft, the profuse, wide-spreading, feeder root system also sends down many anchor roots which penetrate for several feet. Nearly evergreen, alternate leaves are borne mainly in rosettes.. Hundreds and even as many as 3,000 to 4,000 small, yellowish or reddish flowers, 25% to 98% male, the rest hermaphroditic, are borne in profuse, showy, erect, pyramidal, branched clusters 2 1/2 to 15 1/2 in high. There is great variation in the form, size, color and quality of the fruits.
Common name: Mango
Hindi: Am
Malayalam: Amba
Kannada: Mavina mara
Origin: It is believed that it was first domestically grown in India, and it spread to the rest of the world.
Traditional Medicinal Uses and properties: Mangiferin is extracted from Mango at high concentrations from the young leaves (172 g/kg), bark (107 g/kg), and from old leaves (94 g/kg). Mangiferin shows an exceptionally strong antioxidant capacity. It has a number of pharmacological actions and possible health benefits. These include antidiabetic, antioxidant, antifungal, antimicrobal, antiinflamatory, antiviral,hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, anti-allergic and anticancer activity.. Along with Salacia it is being investigated for its possible anti-obesity action. In Ayurveda, one of its uses is clearing digestion and acidity due to pitta (heat), sometimes with other mild sours and shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia).
21. Lagerstroemia speciosa
Description: This tropical flowering tree is one of the most outstanding summer bloomers. Lagerstroemia speciosa is a larger form of the more commonly grown L. indica (Crape myrtle.) Lagerstroemia speciosa is a large tree growing up to 50' but it can be kept smaller by trimming. It stands on an attractive, spotted bark that often peels. This bark is commercially used and is a valuable timber. The large leaves are also appealing as they turn red right before they drop in the winter.
Common name: Pride Of India
Hindi: Jarul
Marathi: Taman
Tamil: Kadali
Origin: It is native to the tropical Southern Asia.
Traditional Medicinal Uses and properties: Its medical applications include blood pressure control, urinary dysfunctions (helps ease urination), cholesterol level control, treatment of diarrhea, facilitates bowel movement, diabetes and as an analgesic. The primary active chemical ingredient of the extract is corosolic acid, and there are also numerous possible synergists including lager-stroemin, flosin B and reginin A. The leaves of the Banabá and other parts are used widely by the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan as a tea preparation. Corosolic acid is a known potent glucophage, helpful in decreasing blood sugar levels. 22. Punica granatum
Description: The pomegranate is a shrub, usually with multiple stems, that commonly grows 6-15 ft tall. The slender branches start out upright, then droop gracefully. Pomegranates have beautiful orange-red trumpet shaped flowers with ruffled petals. From one to several flowers may be borne on a twig, one being terminal, the others lateral and solitary. The odorless but colorful flowers are large, 1 1/2 to 3 inches in length, campanulate or cylindrical, and generally reddish but sometimes yellow to white. There are five or more petals, some of which may be doubled. The stamens are numerous, erect to slightly curved at the apex, and red - the anthers are yellow.
Common name: Pomergranate
Hindi: Anar
Marathi: Dalimb
Tamil: Madulai
Origin: Native to the area of modern day Iraq and Iran, the pomegranate has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times.
Traditional Medicinal Uses and properties: The rind of the fruit and the bark of the pomegranate tree is used as a traditional remedy against diarrhea, dysentery and intestinal parasites. The seeds and juice are considered a tonic for the heart and throat, and classified as a bitter-astringent (pitta or fire) component under the Ayurvedic system, and considered a healthful counterbalance to a diet high in sweet-fatty (kapha or earth) components. The astringent qualities of the flower juice, rind and tree bark are considered valuable for a variety of purposes, such as stopping nose bleeds and gum bleeds, toning skin, (after blending with mustard oil) firming-up sagging breasts and treating hemorrhoids. Pomegranate juice (of specific fruit strains) is also used as eyedrops as it is believed to slow the development of cataracts. Pomegranate has been used as a contraceptive and abortifacient by means of consuming the seeds, or rind, as well as by using the rind as a vaginal suppository.
23. Helicteres isora
Description: East-Indian screw tree is a sub-deciduous shrub or small tree with grey coloured bark. Leaves are simple, serrate margin, scabrous above and pubescent beneath. Flowers are solitary or in sparse clusters, with red petals turning pale blue when old. Fruits are greenish brown, beaked, cylindrical, and spirally twisted on ripening. The twisted shape of the fruit is what lends most of it names like screw tree and maror phali.
Common name: East Indian Screw tree
Hindi: Maror phali
Marathi: Murud sheng
Sanskrit: Shringa
Origin: This tree is usually found only in Asia.
Traditional Medicinal Uses and properties: The roots and stem barks are considered to be expectorant, demulcent, astringent and antiglactagogue. Bark is used in diarrhoea, dysentery, scbies, biliousness and is useful in gripping of the bowels. Root juice is used in antidiarrheal and antidysenteric formulations. Fried pods are given to children to kill intestinal worms.
24. Holarrhena pubescens
Description: Indrajao is a deciduous shrub or a small tree, growing up to 3 ms high. Short stem has pale bark and several branches. Oppositely arranges, ovate, obtusely acuminate leaves are 10-20 cm long. Leaf stalks are very short. White flowers appear in corymb-like cymes, 5-15 cm across, at the end of branches. Flowers have five white petals 2-3 cm long which turn creamish yellow as they age. The flowers are -*beautiful with oblong petals which are rounded at the tip, and remind one of frangipani.
Common name: Indrajao
Hindi: Indrajau
Marathi: Kurwa
Sanskrit: Sakraparyaaya
Traditional Medicinal Uses and properties: It is a medicinal plant in Ayurveda. One of its botanical synonyms Holarrhena antidysenterica says it all. It is one of the best drug for Diarrhoea. In chronic diarrhoea & to check blood coming from stool,it should be given with Isobgol, caster oil or Indrayav. According to Ayurveda, the bark is useful in treatment of piles, skin diseases and biliousness. The bark is used externally in case of skin troubles. The bark is mostly mixed with cow urine and applied to affected parts. In treatment of urinary troubles, the bark is given with cow milk. The fresh juice of bark is considered good to check the diarrhoea. In Bleeding piles Decoction of Kutaj bark with sunthi checks mucus & blood. Application of this herb is useful in Rh. Arthritis & Oestioarthritis.
25. Holoptelea integrifolia
Description: Indian Elm is a large deciduous tree, growing up to 18 m tall. It has grey bark, covered with blisters, peeling in corky scales on old trees. Alternately arranged leaves are elliptic-ovate, 8-13 cm long and 3.2-6.3 cm wide, smooth, with entire margins, and a pointed tip. Leaf base is rounded or heart-shaped. Stipules are lance-shaped. Crushed leaves emit an unpleasant odour. Flowers are small, greenish-yellow to brownish, pubescent, borne in short racemes or fascicles at the scars of fallen leaves. Sepals are velvety, often 4. Fruit is an a circular samara, 2.5 cm in diameter, with membranous, net-veined wings, and flat seed.
Common name: Indian Elm
Hindi: Hilbil
Malayalam: Aaval
Sanskrit: Chirivilva
Origin: NA
Traditional Medicinal Uses and properties: The bark of Indian Elm is used in rheumatism. Seed and paste of stem bark is used in treating ringworm. Bark and leaves are used for treating oedema, diabetes, leprosy and other skin diseases, intestinal disorders, piles and sprue.
Bibliography
List of References
GLOSSARY
Appendix
1.1 Birds of BITS-Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus
Sl. Common Scientific Family possible Sighted Sighting Call No Name name vagrant and only only (within heard 100 m) 1 Asian Cypsiurus Apodidae 1 palmswift balasiensis 2 Common Apus apus Apodidae 1 swift 3 cattle egret Bubulcus Ardeidae 1 ibis 4 intermediate Mesophoyx Ardeidae 1 1 egret intermedia 5 pond heron Ardeola Ardeidae 1 grayii 6 ashy Artamus Artamidae 1 1 woodswallow fuscus 7 Small minivet Pericrocotus Campephagida 1 cinnamomeu e s 8 Nightjar spp. Caprimulgus Caprimulgidae 1 spp. 9 yellow-watled Vanellus Charadriidae 1 lapwing malarbaricus 10 redwattled Vanellus Charadriidae 1 lapwing indicus 11 Vernal Loriculus Charadriidae 1 1 Hanging vernalis parrot 12 rose-ringed Psittacula Charadriidae 1 parakeet krameri 13 jungle prinia Prinia Cisticolidae 1 sylvatica 14 ashy prinia Prinia Cisticolidae 1 socialis 15 Indian Rock Columba Columbidae 1 Pigeon livia 16 Spotted Dove Streptopelia Columbidae 1 chinensis 17 Collared Dove Streptopelia Columbidae 1 decaocto 18 European Coracias Coraciidae 1 Roller garrulus 19 indian roller Coracias Coraciidae 1 benghalensis 20 Jungle Crow Corvus Corvidae 1 macrorhync hos) 21 House Crow Corvus Corvidae 1 splendens 22 Rufous Dendrocitta Corvidae 1 Treepie vagabunda 23 Greater Centropus Cuculidae 1 Coucal sinensis 24 Asiatic Koel Eudynamys Cuculidae 1 scolopaceus 25 Pied cuckoo Clamator Cuculidae 1 jacobinus 26 BlackDrongo Dicrurus Dicruridae 1 macrocercus 27 Ashy Drongo Dicrurus Dicruridae 1 leucophaeus 28 racket-tailed Dicrurus Dicruridae 1 1 drongo remifer 29 scaly-breasted Lonchura Estrildidae 1 munia punctulata 30 Black-headed Lonchura Estrildidae 1 Munia malacca 31 Long-tailed Lanius Laniidae 1 shrike schach 32 coppersmith Megalaima Megalaimidae 1 barbet haemacepha la 33 white-cheeked Megalaima Megalaimidae 1 barbet viridis 34 brownheaded Megalaima Megalaimidae 1 barbet zeylanica 35 pied bush chat Saxicola Muscicapidae 1 caprata 36 magpie robin Copsychus Muscicapidae 1 saularis 37 common stone Saxicola Muscicapidae 1 chat torquata 38 Indian robin Saxicoloides Muscicapidae 1 fulicatus 39 Crimson- Leptocoma Nectariniidae 1 backed minima sunbird 40 puple rumped Nectarinia Nectariniidae 1 sunbird zeylonica 41 purple sunbird Nectarinia Nectariniidae 1 asiatica 42 great tit Parus major Paridae 1 43 Little Phalacrocor Phalacrocoraci 1 1 cormorant ax niger dae 44 redwhiskered Pycnonotus Pycnonotidae 1 bulbul jocosus 45 white-browed Pycnonotus Pycnonotidae 1 bulbul luteolus 46 redvented Pycnonotus Pycnonotidae 1 bulbul cafer 47 White- Amaurornis Rallidae 1 breasted phoenicurus waterhen 48 Common Orthotomus Sylviidae 1 Tailorbird sutorius 49 leaf warbler Phylloscopu Sylviidae 1 spp. s spp. 50 whitebellied Haliaeetus Accipitridae 1 sea eagle leucogaster 51 black kite Milvus Accipitridae 1 migrans 52 brahminy kite Haliastur Accipitridae 1 indus 53 blackshoulder Elanus Accipitridae 1 ed kite caeruleus 54 shikra Accipiter Accipitridae 1 badius 55 Crested Spilornis Accipitridae 1 Serpent Eagle cheela 56 Common Iora Aegithina Aegithinidae 1 tiphia 57 black-crowned Eremopterix Alaudidae 1 sparowlark nigriceps 58 greater short- Calandrella Alaudidae 1 toed lark brachydactyl a 59 common Alcedo Alcedinidae 1 kingfisher atthis 60 Oriental Ceyx Alcedinidae 1 1 (dead Dwarf erithaca specime Kingfisher n) 61 Pied Ceryle rudis Alcedinidae 1 1 kingfisher 62 white-throated Halcyon Alcedinidae 1 kingfisher smyrnensis 63 golden fronted Chloropsis Chloropseidae 1 leafbird aurifrons 64 pale-billed Dicaeum Dicaeidae 1 flowerpcker erythrorhync hos 65 Amur falcon? Falco spp. Falconidae 1 1 - Falco spp. 66 wiretailed Hirundo Hirundinidae 1 swallow smithii 67 barn swallow Hirundo Hirundinidae 1 rustica 68 blue-tailed bee Merops Meropidae 1 eater philippinus 69 small green Merops Meropidae 1 bee eater orientalis 70 white wagtail Motacilla Motacillidae 1 alba 71 Large-pied Motacilla Motacillidae 1 wagtail maderaspate nsis 72 yellow wagtail Motacilla Motacillidae 1 flava 73 Paddyfield Anthus Motacillidae 1 pipit rufulus 74 Black-hooded Oriolus Oriolidae 1 1 oriole xanthornus 75 Golden oriole Oriolus Oriolidae 1 auratus 76 India peafowl Pavo Phasianidae 1 cristatus 77 Grey Francolinus Phasianidae 1 1 Francolin pondicerian us 78 spotted owlet Athene Strigidae 1 brama 79 cestnut tailed Sturnus Sturnidae 1 1 startling malabaricus 80 Rosy starling Sturnus Sturnidae 1 roseus 81 common Acridotheres Sturnidae 1 myna tristis 82 jungle myna Acridotheres Sturnidae 1 fuscus 83 Yellow eyed Chrysomma Timaliidae 1 babbler sinense 84 Jungle babbler Turdoides Timaliidae 1 striata 85 Barred Turnix Turnicidae 1 buttonquail suscitator 86 Barn Owl Tyto alba Tytonidae 1 87 Hoopoe Upupo 1 epops
Around campus (~500m away) 1 Banded bay Cacomantis Cuculidae 1 cuckoo sonneratii
2 asianbrown Muscicapa Muscicapidae 1 flycatcher dauurica
3 Common Dinopium Picidae 1 Flameback javanense 4 Rufous Celeus Picidae 1 woodpecker brachyurus
5 purple moorhen Porphyrio Rallidae 1 porphyrio 6 Common coot Fulica atra Rallidae 1
7 sandpiper spp. Tringa spp. Scolopacidae 1
8 chestut bellied Sitta castanea Sittidae 1 nuthatch
9 malabar whistling Myophonus Turdidae 1 thrush horsfieldii
10 Black-crowned Nycticorax Ardeidae 1 Night-Heron nycticorax
11 Asian Openbill Anastomus Ciconiidae 1 oscitans 12 Blue-faced Phaenicophaeus Cuculidae 1 Malkoha viridirostris
13 Whiskered tern Chlidonias Sternidae 1 hybridus 14 black-headed ibis Threskiornis Threskiornithidae 1 melanocephalus
1.2 Butterflies of BITS-Pilani K.K. Birla Goa campus
S.No: Genus Species Common Name
FAMILY : HESPERIIDAE
1 Badamia exclamationis Brown awl 2 Hasora chromus Common Banded Awl 3 Borbo cinnara Rice Swift 4 Ampittia dioscorides Bush hopper
FAMILY : LYCAENIDAE
5 Zizeeria karsandra Dark Grass Blue 6 Zizula hylax Tiny Grass Blue 7 Chilades lajus Lime Blue 8 Leptotes plinius Zebra Blue 9 Castalius rosimon Common Pierrot 10 Jamides celeno Common Cerulean 11 Abisara echerius Plum Judy?
FAMILY : NYMPHALIDAE
12 Parthenos sylvia Clipper 13 Cupha erymanthis Rustic 14 Ariadne ariadne Angled Castor 15 Ariadne merione Common Castor 16 Polyura chrysippus Plain Tiger 17 Polyura genutia Striped Tiger 18 Euploea core Common Crow 19 Papilio dravidarum Malabar Raven 20 Parantica aglea Glassy Tiger 21 Tirumala limniace Blue Tiger 22 Acraea violae Tawny Coster 23 Vanessa carduii Painted Lady? 24 Euthalia aconthea Common Baron 25 Euthalia lubentina Gaudy Baron? 26 Neptis hylas Common Sailer 27 Hypolimnas bolina Great Eggfly 28 Hypolimnas misippus Danaid Eggfly 29 Junonia almana Peacock Pansy 30 Junonia atlites Grey Pansy 31 Junonia iphita Chocolate Pansy 32 Junonia lemonias Lemon Pansy 33 Junonia hierta Yellow Pansy 34 Melanitis leda Common Evening Brown 35 Mycalesis visala Common Bushbrown 36 Orsotriaena medus Smooth Eyed Bushbrown 37 Ypthima huebneri Common Four-ring 38 Ypthima baldus Common Five-ring
FAMILY : PAPILIONIDAE
39 Troides minos Southern Birdwing 40 Atrophaneura aristolochiae Common Rose 41 Atrophaneura hector Crimson Rose 42 Papilio helenus Red Helen 43 Graphium agamemnon Tailed Jay 44 Graphium sarpedon Common Bluebottle 45 Papilio demoleus Lime Butterfly 46 Papilio polymnester Blue Mormon 47 Papilio polytes Common Mormon
FAMILY : PIERIDAE
48 Catopsilia pomona Common Emigrant 49 Catopsilia pyranthe Mottled Emigrant 50 Eurema hecabe Common Grass Yellow 51 Eurema laeta Spotless Grass yellow 52 Eurema blanda Three spot Grass Yellow 53 Delias eucharis Common Jezebel 54 Leptosia nina Psyche 55 Pareronia valeria Common Wanderer 56 Hebomoia glaucippe Great Orange Tip