Every tree at JM and FC roads now bears an identity
Times of India: When two final year students of MSc (Botany) decided to put their skills to use, it helped recognise 800 trees along the JM and FC roads. Every tree now bears a plate featuring its popular and scientific names.
The unique initiative was undertaken by Apoorva Gaikwad and Sunita Chougule, both final year students of MSc (Botany) at the Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Shivajinagar.
Their objective was to classify and identify trees with a view to educate the public. “Our specialisation is in Angiosperms Taxonomy, which means classification and identification of flowering plants. So we wanted to do something along the lines of the subject,” explains Gaikwad.
Principal R Zunjarrao, also the head of the Department of Botany, came up with the idea of labelling trees along the JM, FC roads and Modern College road and the two students made it possible.
“It was a lot of hardwork. For about three months, we surveyed the trees between Jangli Maharaj temple and Natraj Cinema, from the Dnyaneshwar Paduka chowk to the Modern High School chowk, as well as from Agriculture College to Good Luck chowk,” says Chougule.
Providing them the necessary guidance and motivation on the project were their professors Pramod Shelar, Sudhir Salunke and Vilas Patil. “The whole process necessitated a lot of patience, from drawing diagrams to collecting plant samples for identification and classification Some plants look similar, but can be specifically identified only when they flower. We also had to consult the Flora (a glossary of plant names) for details,” says Gaikwad. “But it was worth it, for it gave a practical application to what we had learnt in theory.”
Adds Chougule, “Some of the most common trees include the Ashoka, Gulmohar, Neelmohar, Sonmohar and Raintrees, specifically chosen to beautify the place, as well as provide shade.”
Once the identification and classification were complete, the trees were labelled with the name plate with due permission from the Garden Department of the PMC.
Even as the Department of Botany endeavours to ensure that the name plates stay in place, they are already planning their next initiative, says Zunjarrao. “It will be a zodiac terrace garden, namely a garden featuring trees beneficial to various star signs.”
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