Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Guide details 238 of plants on IIT campus

CHENNAI: A pocket guide, titled ‘200 + plants of IIT-Madras,’ to serve as a handy reference book for amateur plant lovers was released recently. The publication, which details 238 species of plants found on the campus, has been brought out as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of IIT-M. The listing, also gives common names for all the species. Features that enable easy identification of the plants have been described.

The guide did not include exotic plants that are exclusive to gardens and homesteads, said Jayshree Vencatesan of Care Earth, a bio-diversity research organisation, which was entrusted the work of identifying the flora and fauna on the campus. It also helped the IIT-M bring out the publication.

A total of 350-400 plants; 60-80 species of birds; 50-55 species of butterflies; 20-25 species of mammals; 15-20 species of fishes; 9-10 species of frogs and toads; 10-12 species of lizards, 15 species of snakes and three species of tortoises/turtles were found.

The IIT-M campus, with a land spread of about 240 ha consists of four distinct zones — academic, residential, hostel and wilderness. While the academic and residential zones were earlier part of the Guindy Deer Park, the low-lying wilderness zone that occupied the eastern side was the northern limit of the once extensive Pallikaranai marsh and the hostel zone was a transitional agricultural land procured from villages adjoining Velachery and Taramani.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

‘Taare Zameen Par’ dubbed in Tamil, Telugu
Take care of your pets, ward off leptospirosis
Public Information Officer in TNERC
CITU flays police action in Cuddalore
Orthopaedic surgeon dead
Frequent inspection of rail track sought
New Additional Advocate-General
Writ petition filed to defame me: Raja
“Adopt German model of no-confidence motion”
In Madras Museum, antique sculptures in neglect
Foundation for State library to be laid on Saturday
“No AICTE approval for ICFAI courses”
Research to get a boost in Sankara Nethralaya
Hoary marbles in neglect
Fisheries vessel sinks off Visakhapatnam
Fisheries research vessel sinks
Kerala told to submit report
Experience a new world at the Japanese Film Festival
Guide details 238 of plants on IIT campus
Nurturing students’ spirit of enquiry
Students’ union hones lot of skills
Bomb hoax in schools
Corporation told to file affidavit
TNSCB tenements’ residents remain unwilling to move out
Aid for constructing toilets
Footpaths cleared
Showrooms sparkling with gold rush
“Sufficient grounds must exist to remand an accused”
How ‘triple riding’ ’ turns fatal
Software engineers held with obscene VCDs
Disaster Management course to be introduced
TWAD Board to execute project for building recharge structures
No delay in MBBS counselling this year, say officials
Can’t work with Thirumavalavan: Selvam
Project to stem eco degradation along the Cooum
“Build entrepreneurship qualities in students”
“Keep tab on bank deposits to check terror”
CII, government to tackle healthcare, inflation
Interaction between bankers, SMEs
In Chennai Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu