Field
study is an essential part of Botany degree course. The natural environment
i.e. the surroundings where we all interact, the plants in their natural
habitat is one of the most interesting things that is needed to be studied by
the students of plant science. Studying plants in their natural habitat
enhances our knowledge. Classroom study and field study are complementary to
each other and we cannot ignore any one of them. Hence keeping these two things
in view, this study tour was organized by the department of Botany as per the
syllabus prescribed by the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli.
Aim and object of the study tour
1.To observe and collect
the plant species from the study site.
2.
To study the natural habitats and
characters of the plants found in the area.
3.
To collect some plant species for
herbarium preparation and submission for
examination
4.
The collect plant may be kept and used
for reference studies.
The Department of Botany of Nesamony
Memorial Christian College, Marthandam, organized 5 days study tour to its
final year B. Sc. Botany students from 25.09.2022 to 30.09.2022 and visited the
Biodiversity and Ecological spots of Bangalore, Mysore, Mudhumalai forest,
Ooty, Athirapalli, Vaazhichal falls and Cochin. The faculty members Dr. S. Jayakumar,
Dr.P.David Samuel, Dr. P. Subitha and Mr. S. Sundaram (Lab assistant)
accompanied with the students and have given academic guidance during the trip.
Schedule
of the Study Tour
Plant specimens collected from the
study site
Calotropis procera, Citrus grandis,
Citrus aurantium, Acacia armata, Callistemon lanceolatus, Datura suaveolens, Eucalyptus
globules, Euphorbia splendens, Glochidion elipticum, Salvia officinalis, Grevillea
hilliana, Iberis amara, Bursa pastoris, Brassica olearaceae, Mentha arvensis, Ruta
chalepensis, Helianthus annuus, Strobilathes kunthiana, Celosia arbengia, Casuarina
Montana, Pinus longifolia, Funaria and Usnea Lichen.
Conclusion
Our study tour was very interesting;
student participants interacted in well-disciplined manner cooperated well with
the teacher guides.
Students gained lot of knowledge about
many plants and their taxonomic characters. The students have collected many
plant specimens for herbarium and practical purposes.
We
realized that viewing the flora and fauna in its natural form made us things
vivid enhancing the classroom lectures and laboratory experiments.