Activities

The PG and Research Department of Botany, KAHM Unity Women’s College, Manjeri, organized a Taxonomic Collection Trip to Munnar and Kodaikanal as part of the M.Sc. Botany curriculum on 24-27 October 2025. The primary objective of the trip was to provide students with hands-on experience in plant identification, classification and herbarium preparation, and to help them study the diverse vegetation types and plant families prescribed in their syllabus. The program aimed to familiarize students with the floral diversity of the Western Ghats, as well as the morphological and ecological characteristics of various plant species, and to train them in field collection and preservation techniques used in plant taxonomy.
The group, comprising postgraduate students and faculty members, explored the biodiversity-rich regions of Munnar and Kodaikanal, where they observed a wide range of vegetation types including tropical evergreen forests, shola-grassland ecosystems and montane vegetation. Students actively participated in the collection, observation and documentation of plant specimens from different habitats such as forest patches, grasslands, plantations and roadside areas. They identified species belonging to different families such as Sterculiaceae, Menispermaceae, Meliaceae, Aizoaceae, Orchidaceae and Poaceae, among others.
Each specimen collected was carefully examined for its morphological features and properly labelled with details such as habitat, altitude and locality. The collected materials were pressed between newspapers and cardboards using field presses to remove moisture and later mounted on herbarium sheets for academic reference. Through this systematic process, students gained practical training in herbarium techniques, plant classification and ecological documentation, while also developing an appreciation for the importance of conserving native and endemic flora.
The trip provided an enriching academic experience, successfully integrating theoretical knowledge with field-based learning. It also fostered teamwork, keen scientific observation and documentation skills among the students. The program coordinated by Dr. Deepa P., Ms. Husna Banu and Ms. Nishma, whose guidance and supervision ensured that the trip was both educational and memorable for all participants.