Flowery tomes for IISc 100

Bengaluru, May 25: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is making a splash with flowers on its centenary, bringing out two volumes on the flowering plants found on its 320 acre campus.

Flowering plants of IISc: A Field Guide will be released during the centenary celebrations on May 27. It is the result of several decades of work by veteran botanist and professor from the Centre for Ecological Sciences, K. Sankara Rao.

“I have wandered on this campus since the seventies, documenting its plants and trees. As 90 per cent of the flora on the campus reflects that of Bengaluru district, the field guide will help anyone who wants to know more about the trees in his surroundings. The book mentions the type of plant, its salient features, origin, habitat, flowering season and location on the campus,” professor Rao explains.

Besides being home to native and exotic tree species, the IISc campus also has some rare plants. Interestingly, one of the only two surviving shaving brush trees (pseudobombax ellipticum) in Bengaluru is found here. The other is at Lalbagh. The rare velvet seed tree is seen in the grounds as well. Plants from both tropical and temperate climates flourish on the campus, which also boasts of some rain forest species.

“The book was not easy to compile. The floral composition here is unusual with a large component of exotic species. The campus has accumulated ornamental trees from various parts of the world with most of them brought here by faculty members during their foreign visits. The trees which were planted by the British in front of the main building still exist,” the professor adds.

However, he regrets that those who live and work on campus have little knowledge about the flora around them. “Visitors marvel at the colours of the campus and are full of questions about the rich and varied plant life that they see here. This field guide will fulfil their curiosity as well as that of naturalists about the trees and their location on the campus,” he says.