Activities

The M.Sc. Botany first-semester students of KAHM Unity Women’s College, Manjeri, began a two-day plant collection trip to Ooty and Wayanad from 6th to 7th November 2024, aimed at enriching their knowledge of Gymnosperms and Pteridophytes through direct field experience. Coordinated by Ms. Surya (Assistant Professor ad-hoc) and Ms. Shifa (Assistant Professor ad-hoc) the trip began with a visit to the pine forest in Ooty, where students collected and studied various Gymnosperm species in their natural habitat, followed by an exploration of the Ooty Botanical Garden, which offered a curated selection of Gymnosperms. On the second day, the group travelled to Wayanad to focus on Pteridophytes at the Gurukulam Botanical Sanctuary, a biodiversity-rich area ideal for studying ferns and related plants in a natural setting. Additional roadside collections provided further diversity, allowing students to observe native ferns in various environments. The students actively participated in each collection activity, carefully documenting morphological features and ecological contexts of the specimens for further analysis. This hands-on trip not only improved the students’ practical skills in plant collection, preservation, and identification but also deepened their understanding of plant diversity and ecological adaptations, making it a valuable addition to their academic curriculum.